Browns’ 3-1 start hides warning signs of a team far from AFC contention

The Cleveland Browns sit at 3-1 and in first place in the AFC North after Thursday’s 27-24 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, but a team that keeps needing last-minute drives to survive isn’t one of the AFC’s top contenders.

Cleveland has been outscored 95-81 through four games. Its three wins came by a combined 10 points, and the loss was a 34-10 beating at the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1.

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If you found yourself complimenting Deshaun Watson or the Browns on Thursday night, you are the “That boy’s good!” guy from Coming to America. If that dated reference doesn’t mean anything to you, it just means you’re wrong. Enthusiastically incorrect.

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Browns point differential exposes 3-1 record

Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken looks on during the second quarter against the Carolina Panthers | Scott Galvin-Imagn

A 3-1 team with a losing point differential is winning the close ones, and every Browns victory has come down to the final four minutes.

Deshaun Watson’s 17-yard touchdown to Blake Whiteheart with 3:51 left lifted Cleveland past Tampa Bay 23-19 in Week 2. His 14-yard touchdown to Harold Fannin Jr. with 1:48 left beat Carolina 21-18 the next week.

Carolina outgained Cleveland 362-259, while the Browns went just 5-for-15 on third down in their home opener.

Against Pittsburgh, Cleveland led 21-10 at halftime but scored only six points after the break. The Browns needed a 56-yard field goal from kicker Andre Szmyt with 10 seconds left after the Steelers tied the game at 24. They also outgained Pittsburgh by only 11 yards. So if you think the Steelers’ offense is anemic, the Browns are about the same.

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Why can’t the Browns stop committing penalties?

Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken talks with referees against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Head coach Todd Monken pushed his players to clean up pre-snap penalties during spring workouts after Cleveland hired him in January. Instead, the Browns were flagged 34 times in their first three games, the second most in the NFL, and added 14 more on Thursday.

The Browns drew 14 flags, including declined calls, in the Week 3 win over Carolina. That was the team’s most in a game since 2023. Right tackle Tytus Howard was called for three false starts, and Monken didn’t hide from it the next day.

“That’s embarrassing,” Monken said.

Penalties nearly cost Cleveland again on Thursday. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren’s fourth-and-10 pass interference with 1:51 left set up Pittsburgh’s touchdown one play later. Jared Verse jumped offside on the 2-point try, then Aaron Rodgers tied it with a 1-yard sneak.

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Deshaun Watson’s second-half slide hurts Browns

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) looks on after the win against the Carolina Panthers | Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

The trap of preseason expectations frames this team as more than what it is. Most expected the Browns to have yet another bad season. Can you blame them?

A clear loss to Jacksonville fulfilled those expectations. Now, three straight wins against middling-at-best franchises is a positive sign for Cleveland if they can build from it. Bright spots like rookie wideouts KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston are deserving of attention. However, viewing the Browns as something more than the recipient of a fortuitous start against an underwhelming schedule would be a mistake.

Watson threw an interception on the first drive of the season at Jacksonville and took five sacks in that loss. On Thursday, the 31-year-old completed 14 of 17 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown in the first half. After halftime, he went 10 of 16 for 87 yards, and both of his turnovers came in the second half.

Running back Quinshon Judkins gave him little help, carrying 17 times for 53 yards.

The defense has been the steadier unit. Cleveland sacked Rodgers five times Thursday, and safety Grant Delpit intercepted him at the Cleveland 18 on the final drive.

What’s the next step for Cleveland?

Through four games, Cleveland has scored only eight touchdowns, and kicker Andre Szmyt has accounted for 31 of the team’s 81 points with eight field goals and seven extra points.

The offense is averaging 292.5 yards per game, has converted 15 of 46 third downs (32.6%) and is running for just 3.7 yards per carry. The Browns have also been penalized 43 times for 297 yards, and a team with those numbers the definition of “better to be lucky than good.”

Cleveland visits the New York Jets in Week 5, and until the penalty count drops and Watson produces after halftime, the Browns’ 3-1 record overstates how good this roster is.

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