The Cleveland Browns rose nine spots in NFL.com's Week 3 power rankings after beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Cleveland Browns rose nine spots in NFL.com's Week 3 power rankings after beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2.
Cleveland went from No. 32 to No. 23.
The Browns lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1. Many people expected Cleveland to get blown out by Tampa Bay, but Todd Monken's group came away with a clutch road win.
Deshaun Watson went 24/30 through the air for 238 passing yards and two passing touchdowns in Week 2. Watson's second TD pass was to Blake Whiteheart with under four minutes left in regulation. It wound up being the game-winning play.
Watson has 443 passing yards and three passing touchdowns through two games. He has one interception and is completing 76.9% of his passes. The three-time Pro Bowler missed the entire 2025 season recovering from the Achilles tendon tear he suffered in 2024.
"Every week I'm getting more confident and more comfortable with myself," Watson said. "Like I told the team, I feel good. I'm healthy. I trust the work that I've put in the last two years and [if] you got to put the ball in my hands, I'm ready for it. So whatever we got to do to make the team win and keep the guys moving, I'm ready for it."
The Browns host the Carolina Panthers (1-1) in Week 3 in the team's home opener. Will Watson be booed or cheered by the home fans?
No one knows, but Watson is just controlling what he can control at this point.
“I'm just happy we got the win,” Watson said. “I'm right where I'm supposed to be. I'll leave the journey in God's hands and let the outcome be the outcome.”
Monken may have benched Watson for Shedeur Sanders in Week 3 had Watson struggled in Week 2. However, Watson came through in the clutch and led the Browns to their first win since January.
“I'm so happy for him,” Monken said of Watson. “Good for him. Good for 22 months working his (tail) off to get to where he's at. I'm gonna leave it at that.”
Browns fans may still boo Watson in the home opener. After all, two dozen women accused Watson of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct during massage sessions and Watson is only 10-11 as Cleveland's starting QB.
However, for one day, things went well for Watson and the Browns and we haven't been able to say that in a long, long time.
The Panthers have one of the hottest offenses in the NFL, so the Browns' defense is in for a tough test in Week 3.
Carolina QB Bryce Young has 648 passing yards and six touchdown passes through two games. The Panthers scored 59 points in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears and 34 in Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons.
