Todd Monken and the Cleveland Browns entered the 2026 season with plenty of doubts surrounding the team. Questions followed Monken’s coaching, Deshaun Watson’s place as the starting quarterback, and the direction of the franchise.

Those doubts only grew heading into Week 2 after Cleveland suffered a 34-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Browns faced heavy criticism from the media, while fans continued to question whether Watson could lead the team under Monken.

Instead, Cleveland responded with a huge 23-19 road victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Watson played a major role in the turnaround, throwing for 238 yards and two touchdowns as the Browns finally gave their supporters something to celebrate.

When Monken discussed the team’s mindset after the game, he revealed that the players wanted to reject one phrase that has followed the franchise for years.

“'Browns are gonna Browns, f*** that!' Okay. So the guys took that to heart.”

The message clearly resonated with the locker room. Cleveland played with greater confidence and resilience, overcoming the negativity that surrounded the team before kickoff.

For Monken, the victory meant more than simply improving the Browns’ record. His players actively challenged the narrative surrounding the franchise and showed they could respond when the pressure intensified.

Todd Monken and the Browns Must Keep the Same Energy

The Browns now return home to face the Carolina Panthers in Week 3. Beating Tampa Bay was an important response to the negativity surrounding Cleveland, but sustaining that energy will prove much harder.

Monken needs his players to maintain the same focus that helped them overcome the Buccaneers. Watson also needs to build on his two-touchdown performance and give Cleveland consistent quarterback play.

The Browns finally have some momentum. Now, they need to prove this victory was not simply a one-week response to criticism.

Written by

Joseph Nithin