It’s been a long week for Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. And it’s not over yet.
Against the Buccaneers on Sunday, Watson could record his seventh straight loss as a starter. That would be the longest streak by any Browns quarterback since DeShone Kizer in 2017, when a 15-game losing streak punctuated an 0-16 season. Which opened the door for Baker Mayfield to be drafted the following April.
Watson drew fresh criticism after Week 1’s 34-10 loss to the Jaguars by claiming that “the media has this expectation that I’m supposed to throw (for) 400 yards and five touchdowns each week,” even though he hasn’t done it once since Week 5 of the 2019 season.
There are even more depressing statistics than that. As Anthony Lima of 92.3 The Fan noted Friday morning, Bills quarterback Josh Allen has nine total tackles in five days. Watson has a total of eight strikes in 1041 days.
And, yes, the Browns could have drafted Allen instead of Mayfield. But don’t feel too bad about it, Browns fans; the organization would likely have crumbled and/or left Allen by now.
After Sunday — barring a win and, perhaps, 400 yards and five touchdowns — the Browns will have to move on from Watson or risk an all-out upset for the Week 3 home opener against Carolina.