Browns Find Spark With Jameis Winston, Now Tough Decision Approaches

They say winning cures everything. I definitely felt that way on Sunday.

An upset win of 29-24. Baltimore Ravens It was enough to cause lots of smiles inside Cleveland Browns locker room. For the first time in a long time, the locker room didn’t look like a funeral. The win was also enough to reunite Browns fans and players after some debate over how some fans would react to the situation. Deshaun WatsonHe suffered a season-ending injury a week ago.

Suddenly, everything in Cleveland turns into rainbows and butterflies again; as long as it involves the city’s football team. Making supporting the team a moral dilemma when the controversial quarterback isn’t around works.

Senior substitute in his absence James Winston For seven weeks he ran the same pathetic offense that took the field to new heights. He completed 27 of his 41 passes for 334 yards and three touchdowns, led a game-winning drive in the game’s final two minutes, unlocked non-existent wide receivers and — most importantly — earned the Browns a second win this season.

In the last seven Browns games featuring starting QBs not named Deshaun Watson, those quarterbacks have thrown for 300-plus yards five times. While a season-ending Achilles injury may not mean the end of Watson’s time in Cleveland, these numbers certainly do.

There was a different energy at Huntington Bank Field in Week 8. From the players on the field. To the fans in the stands. Now, armed with a second win and a potent offense, hopes have been revived for a season many believed was a lost one.

Really? Really Still lost?

That’s the key question of great importance for the Browns next week. Browns will play one more game at home Los Angeles Chargersbefore the trade deadline on election day. Then, a bye week awaits the players, where they will get a chance to get off their feet and be healthy for the final part of the season.

A week ago we were sitting at 1-6 on the season. There was an understanding that the Browns would likely be sellers at the deadline. We’re trading in certain bits and pieces to stock up on picks for next April’s draft. Although going 2-6 doesn’t change much, Cleveland’s executives may be able to convince themselves to go on a magic run after the bye week; This is similar to what was sparked by the team’s Hail Mary quarterback change last year. Joe Flacco.

What remains is a much tougher schedule than Flacco’s in 2023. But if the offense and defense can compliment each other like they did in Sunday’s win over Baltimore, the Browns can win every football game they play.

The biggest problem is that the team’s margin of error is very high. This will happen when you lose six of your first seven games. Although Winston provides a nice spark for the team, his gun-based style of play isn’t necessarily advantageous in winning football games for a team that should be nearly perfect the rest of the way.

Even in the win, Winston benefited from some lucky bounces; Most importantly, it was an intervention by security. Kyle Hamilton on Cleveland’s game-winning touchdown drive. Winston had a second chance to win the game and took advantage of it. But that won’t always be the case, as the most well-known quarterback – live, viral pregame speeches aside – threw 30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions during the season. pirates.

It’s a tough place to operate in this world when you have Browns vice president of football operations Andrew Berry and company. Names similar to DE Za’Darius SmithC.B. Greg Newsome II, W.R. Elijah MooreEven Winston could provide Cleveland with varying levels of draft capital if the goal is to start planning for next year.

But at the same time, head coach Kevin Stefanski must try not to lose sight of a locker room full of experienced players who expect this season to end in the playoffs. Trading any of these guys, especially Winston after his impressive performance against Baltimore, would certainly suggest the opposite. Threading that needle can be very difficult.

And that sets the stage for the biggest game of the season in Week 9. A win over the Chargers would put the Browns at 3-6 heading into the bye week. It’s a tough schedule with four league matches, some tough trips and a tough schedule. chefs waiting on the other side. But as Joel Bitonio said in the locker room after Sunday’s win, quoting Kevin Millar of the 2004 Boston Red Sox: “why not us?”

Cleveland is a city of eternal hope. If you give this fan base an inch of faith, they’ll take a mile of faith. If we get another win, the Brown organization can have even more confidence in that hope.