The Cleveland Browns have found renewed momentum after a difficult start to the season. Three straight wins have strengthened their position, with Deshaun Watson delivering late scoring drives to help secure the run of victories.

Todd Monken's decision to stick with his quarterback is beginning to pay dividends. Speaking on ESPN Cleveland's The Next Level, Browns insider Tony Grossi discussed the relationship between the head coach and quarterback.

Grossi believes their combined efforts have helped Watson deliver better results:

"That whole storyline has kind of faded into the background, which is what Monken was hoping for. And all he needed was for the quarterback to win games, and that's what's happening. So, I think those two together, Monken and Watson, are responsible for the success of Watson. I think Monken is pulling it out of him."

Grossi's assessment credits both men for the recent turnaround. Monken has backed Watson despite early struggles, while the quarterback has responded with three straight wins.

Their partnership has given Cleveland reason to remain optimistic.

The quarterback did not have an easy start to life in Cleveland

Deshaun Watson's arrival in Cleveland in 2022 brought intense scrutiny, followed by an 11-game NFL suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy.

He then struggled to find consistency, with injuries further complicating his Browns tenure. Watson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in 2023 before rupturing his Achilles tendon in 2024. The latter injury sidelined him for the rest of that season and continued to disrupt his progress.

These setbacks kept questions about his future in Cleveland alive. However, recent success has begun shifting attention back to his performances on the field, echoing Tony Grossi's observation that the earlier storyline had faded into the background.

Written by

Sayantan