The following is a game coverage written for my Sports Commentary class at Northwestern:
By: Izzie Begley
Throughout the 2024-25 NFL season, Deshaun Watson has been a topic of conversation… but not for anything good. Watson, who somehow managed to land a massive 5-year $230 million fully guaranteed contract, has looked nothing like the player he was in his early Houston days. Considering Watson barely played in the 2022 and 2023 season, it feels as though he and his agent just may have pulled off the biggest heist in NFL history.
With a lot of noise surrounding Watson, the “Battle of Ohio,” against the 2-4 Bengals, could have served as a turning point for him and the Browns.
Spoiler alert, it didn’t. It couldn’t have gone worse.
The Browns fell to the Bengals 21-14.
The Bengals are a very respectable team, even though their record does not necessarily reflect that. They’re a “good bad team.” Despite having a tough week one against the Patriots, their remaining losses are to the Ravens, Chiefs, and Commanders. In all of those matchups, they were within one score and it could have easily gone their way. Cincinnati’s defensive line has been struggling, but they turned a corner last week and capitalized on the opportunity today.
First Quarter: Bengals strike early, Browns struggle
It didn’t take very long for Cinnicinati to get on the board. It took 11 seconds. On the opening kickoff, Charlie Jones took it 100 yards to the house.
Cleveland’s first drive mirrored their season thus far – ineffective and frustrating. A three and out set the tone of the offense that seemed unsure of itself, with Watson playing behind an offensive line that has been a turnstile all season. With starting offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. out, in addition to starting guard Wyatt Teller, the offensive line continued its disappearing act in key spots which made Watson’s job even more difficult.
The Bengals had some early struggles but managed to move the ball. Offensively they weren’t always on the same page which inhibited them from capitalizing on some of their big plays, but their WR duo of Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase was showing promise.
Second Quarter: Watson finds momentum, then disaster strikes
Entering the second quarter, both teams looked sluggish. Joe Burrow was under constant pressure from a Browns defense that has been one of the few bright spots for Cleveland. The Bengals’ offensive line, much like Cleveland’s, was a liability. Joe Burrow took back-to-back sacks which killed any momentum Cincinnati had.
Late in the second quarter the Browns showed a glimmer of offensive competency. Watson led a solid drive, as he found Jordan Atkins for a 21-yard pickup. This play took the first half into the two-minute warning.
Following the stoppage of play, Cleveland was just one yard away from the red zone, when disaster struck. Watson went down with a non-contact injury and was carted off the field. Early speculation is a torn Achilles. As a result, Dorian Thompson-Robinson (DTR) came in at QB.
Despite the setback, Cleveland managed to punch it in with Nick Chubb on a 4th and goal attempt. They missed the extra point which kept the Browns trailing 7-6 at halftime.
Third Quarter: DTR shows promise, but Bengals pull ahead
The Browns started the second half with renewed energy behind DTR. The rookie brought an element of creativity and mobility out of the pocket that Watson was lacking. There were several moments where DTR came up big, but penalties on the offensive line plagued the productivity of the offense which kept them from finishing drives. DTR’s ability to scramble made the Brown’s offense look a bit more dynamic but penalties undermined his mobility.
Meanwhile, Cincinnati started to look like the team that put up 30 points in their last three games. Burrow found Ja’Marr Chase for a back-shoulder 20-yard touchdown, putting the Bengals up 14-6. The Browns defense, which had been strong in the first half, began to wear down and started to give up big plays.
DTR’s play became inconsistent and ended the third quarter with a pass batted down that led to an interception which gave another opportunity to Cincinnati. Despite the defensive stop, the Bengals offense failed to capitalize.
Fourth Quarter: This was really uneventful until the last minute and a half
The fourth quarter was painfully uneventful. Neither team was able to produce much offense. The Browns third string QB, Jameis Winston, came in for DTR after a finger injury sidelined the rookie. Winston, who looked far more composed than Watson and DTR, led a late drive that ended in a touchdown to David Njoku, followed by a successful two-point conversion to Cedric Tillman. This narrowed the Browns deficit to 21-14.
A failed onside kick for the Browns sealed the game with Joe Burrow taking victory formation. This marked Burrow’s first win in Cleveland.
Final Thoughts: Did Watson play his last snap in Cleveland?
The Browns fall to 1-6, while the Bengals improve to 3-4 in a hard-fought yet sloppy win. For Cleveland, the focus shifts back to the man who wasn’t on the field for most of the game: Deshaun Watson. His injury may spare him from further scrutiny… for now. However, it is difficult to ignore the elephant in the room – despite Watson’s massive contract, he has yet to deliver any results. To make matters worse the money is fully guaranteed, he barely played within a two year span and he has dozens of sexual assault allegations.
It is important to recognize that Watson never really got off the ground in Cleveland. He became the first quarterback to receive a full guaranteed deal, which raises the question: why would an organization ever make that move? Given the serious allegations surrounding Watson, he wasn’t going to have a huge market. There was little reason to pay him that much.
What makes this even more striking is the possibility that Watson may have taken his final snap as a Cleveland Brown. If the injury is as severe as it appears, it’s almost poetic? It doesn’t seem shocking that his tenure in Cleveland could not end with a moment of triumph, but with him being carted off the field. If this is the end, the image of Watson’s agent pulling off the biggest heist in NFL history feels complete.
