As the Cleveland Browns gear up for Week 4, they find themselves in a precarious position. Offensively, they have been struggling mightily, ranking near the bottom of the league in total yards, rushing yards, passing yards, and points per game. Deshaun Watson, the quarterback, has faced a challenging start to the season, and the team is in dire need of answers as they prepare to take on the Las Vegas Raiders.
“I’m not going in there to ask them for more designed runs. … If I don’t have to run, I’m not going to run,” Watson expressed during an interview with ESPN. “I’m not trying to take any hits. … I’m not a running quarterback, in a sense. I can make things happen, but I’m not trying to run.”
The struggles of Cleveland’s offense are evident, with their ranking plummeting to 31st in total yards. Watson’s performance has also been underwhelming, placing him at the bottom of several key passing statistics. He ranks last in passing yards per attempt, yards per dropback, success rate, and sacks taken among quarterbacks who have started all three games this season. Despite being in close games for two out of their three matchups, Watson has led the NFL in dropbacks with a whopping 141 attempts.
The Browns’ overreliance on Watson has not alleviated the pressure on him. In fact, it has only exacerbated the issues. Watson, known for his low completion percentage, has been stretched thin without star running back Nick Chubb by his side. The lack of a consistent running game from Cleveland only adds to the woes, as they have attempted significantly fewer rushes compared to their opponents.
The road ahead looks daunting for the Browns as they face the Raiders in Week 4. With mounting offensive struggles and a quarterback in need of support, Cleveland must find a way to turn the tide before it’s too late.
