BALTIMORE — Deshaun Watson’s first pass Sunday came on the second snap. It was tipped in the air by blitzing safety Kyle Hamilton, who intercepted it and returned it 18 yards for a touchdown. It was eerily similar to Week 2 in Pittsburgh.
“I was looking at AVP like what the f*&^? Again? Again, really? Again?” Watson said Sunday, referring to coordinator Alex Van Pelt and the first-snap pick-six against the Steelers. “But I guess it happens. It shouldn’t happen. I don’t want it to happen. We just had to shake through.”
Browns 33, Ravens 31: Cleveland completes crazy comeback with field goal as time expires
Watson and the Browns shook off all the missteps and adversity and emerged with a thrilling 33-31 victory over the Ravens. Despite playing on an injured left ankle that was immobilized in a boot after the game, Watson went 14-for-14 for 134 yards and a touchdown in the second half to lead the comeback.
“It’s like the old saying goes, man. It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” receiver Amari Cooper said.
The Browns (6-3) hope Watson is just getting started. They’ve won the last three games he started and finished and are seeing signs of the three-time Pro Bowler they traded for in 2022 and signed to a fully guaranteed $230 million contract.
Commentary: Browns play their worst game and best game in the same game … and get signature win
He finished 20-for-34 for 213 yards, a touchdown, an interception and a 74.8 passer rating. He was sacked four times and rushed eight times for 37 yards, not including a 2-point conversion.
“Guy’s a dog and we’ve known that for a long time now,” defensive end Myles Garrett said. “Kept on trying to tell y’all, once he hits his stride, he’s going to be back to his previous ways, dominating the league, hitting spots, running down the field. And we’re just seeing another glimpse into what he can be and who he is and I think he’s going to continue to carry that momentum throughout the season because he’s special.”
#Browns Myles Garrett on Deshaun Watson. pic.twitter.com/ySDSbtQm96
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Watson’s ankle was injured in the second quarter when former Texans and Browns teammate Jadeveon Clowney tackled him in the red zone and he got rolled up on. Watson, who missed nearly all of four games last month with a strain in the right rotator cuff, stayed in the game before heading to the locker room in the final seconds of the half. He remained inside longer than his teammates before jogging back onto the field.
“I’ll be fine,” he said. “I mean, right now I’m not feeling well. I’ll be ready to go 1 o’clock on Sunday. I’ll be ready to go and ready for that opportunity for us.
“I came in just to get retaped and whatever we needed to do. And I was going back out to finish. I wasn’t getting pulled out.”
#Browns Deshaun Watson said he never doubted he’d be able to finish game, said he’ll be ready next week. Ankle injured at end of first half. pic.twitter.com/eqYiRttVjA
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The Browns host the Steelers (6-3) next week. They’ll do so riding a giant wave of confidence and with a quarterback who delivered a rare win at M&T Bank Stadium. The Browns are 6-19 here.
“When I came in to get looked at, I just wanted to just make sure I locked in and this was going to be a big moment for myself, because I didn’t want to let my teammates down and I knew that I had to put a lot more on my shoulders than what I should have because we put ourselves in a hole,” Watson said. “But I was ready and prepared for that moment. I didn’t fear anything and I just focused on one play at a time and that’s what we did.”
As ugly as the beginning was, the ending was just as gorgeous to the Browns and their fans.
After the Ravens took a 31-17 lead with 11:34 left, Watson led a 75-yard touchdown drive that included a 25-yard completion to Cooper and a 23-yard catch-and-run by tight end David Njoku. The touchdown was a 10-yard pass to receiver Elijah Moore, his first with the Browns.
#Browns Deshaun Watson on huge second half for him and team. pic.twitter.com/eNOMx69rMB
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Cornerback Greg Newsome II’s 32-yard interception return for a touchdown brought the Browns within 31-30 after Dustin Hopkins missed the extra point. The defense got a stop and gave the ball back to the offense at its 20-yard line with 4:55 left.
Watson delivered when it mattered most.
He threw 11 yards to Njoku, then got a break on a strip-sack that was recovered by right guard Wyatt Teller. With new life, Watson found Cooper over the middle for 17 yards, then scrambled for 16 yards. He was slow to get up and the Browns were charged with a timeout, but they were within Hopkins’ range at the Ravens 39-yard line.
A 12-yard run by Ford made the kick more comfortable, and Hopkins nailed the winner from 40 yards.
“It was a big win on the road against a very, very great team, one of the top teams in the league, one of the best defenses in the league in their place,” Watson said. “It was definitely a big moment for us and we’ve just got to keep going.”
The Browns were without their starting tackles, so Watson had to rely on his athleticism to escape trouble and create plays, bad ankle and all.
“The kid again makes plays when they’re not there,” coach Kevin Stefanski said. “Makes unbelievable throws and leads his football team. There was really never a doubt in his mind about how this game was going to turn out. I saw that throughout the week and throughout the game itself. He’s a leader of this football team for a reason.”
Left guard Joel Bitonio also saw this coming from Watson.
“All week I sensed a focus with him that he was just like, ‘This is why I got brought here, these big games, the AFC North battles,’” Bitonio said. “We’ve got all the faith in the world in him. He fought, we came back and that last drive was just a testament to him making plays and finding open guys and using his legs.”
Linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. told Watson during the week he was “going to be special.”
“We talked about that all week,” Walker said. “Just himself as the franchise quarterback in this game, what this game was going to mean.
“He didn’t flinch. He went out there, kept battling and then was able to turn it on the second half.”
