Jameis Winston is making the Browns look very silly for a decision they made that helped tank their season
At 3-9 on the season, the Cleveland Browns can go ahead and put this year down as a major failure. It has been nothing short of that. Cleveland was supposed to take a step forward this year after a playoff appearance last season, but that isn’t happening. Instead, they have another lost season and they […]
At 3-9 on the season, the Cleveland Browns can go ahead and put this year down as a major failure. It has been nothing short of that.
Cleveland was supposed to take a step forward this year after a playoff appearance last season, but that isn’t happening. Instead, they have another lost season and they are looking toward next year. The Browns also have a quarterback problem with Deshaun Watson missing extended time once again.
Since Jameis Winston has taken over, the offense has been uplifted quite a bit. It begs to wonder why the Browns didn’t go with the player that gives them the better chance to win from the jump.
Over three seasons, Watson has played in 19 games for the Browns. The seven games this year are the most he’s played in a single season with the Browns. During that time, the Browns went 1-6 through the easiest part of their schedule. Watson was totaling just 164 passing yards per game and had just a five to three touchdown-to-interception ratio. Cleveland did not have a passer throw for 200 yards until Winston did in Week 8 against the Ravens. The Browns did not eclipse 20 points until the same game.
Winston is 2-3 as a starter for the Browns and has helped them get wins over both the Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. The veteran quarterback is averaging 336 passing yards per game and threw for 497 yards against the Broncos on Monday night. Sure, Winston turns the rock over more, but he also gives you a better chance to win with a capable offense. That just wasn’t the case with Watson.
Watson struggled at times in camp and many folks saw the level of play coming from a mile away. Still, the Browns insisted on trotting him out there for seven games. The Browns have over $90 million guaranteed for the next two years to Watson, but they still should have gone with the best chance to win and that is Winston. By the time Winston took over, things were already too far gone for the Browns.
It isn’t to say that the Browns would be a playoff team win Winston leading the offense, but you can be sure they would be better than 3-9. Close losses to the Giants and Raiders earlier in the season where the Browns failed to score more than 16 points in either were winnable games.
Hindsight is always 20/20, but the Browns made the wrong decision this season with their starting quarterback and that is clear. They can not make the same mistake next season.
