The Cleveland Browns moved to 2-1 on the season with a 21-18 Week 3 win over the Carolina Panthers, and quarterback Deshaun Watson delivered when it mattered most. Cleveland wasn’t sharp offensively for much of the afternoon, but Watson and co. came through in crunch time with a 14-yard touchdown pass to tight end Harold Fannin Jr. with a minute and 48 seconds remaining to grab the victory.

It was Fannin’s second touchdown reception of the day, and it gave the Browns a win they needed in front of a home crowd Watson hadn’t played a real game in front of in almost two years.

Deshaun Watson’s numbers won’t jump off the screen, but the finish mattered

Watson finished the game 16-of-30 passing for 144 yards and two touchdowns. He was sacked twice and added 45 rushing yards on 11 carries. Those numbers aren’t going to light up the stat sheet, but the way he closed the game was important.

After the game, Watson made a strong admission about what the home crowd’s energy meant to him. Despite some tough moments between both sides, including being booed off the field during the preseason, Sunday went well. 

“I just wanted to finish the job for them,” Watson stated. “There was one moment where I got a little teary eyed, feeling that energy. I’ve put in so much work to get here, to be in this moment here and to be able to show I can finish these drives, and finish these games to get W’s for this city and this organization.

“This is what all the hard work, belief, prayers, everything that I have put myself through the last 22 months. To be able to stand in front of the crowd on that field and to finish the job. I want to keep improving and keep trying to get better each and every day, each week and we have a big one on Thursday.”

A big Week 4 matchup awaits Cleveland

The Browns hosting Pittsburgh on Thursday Night Football should be a great environment for the Browns to potentially pick up another win. If Cleveland can move to 3-1 on the season with three wins through four games, it would be significant for a team that is young in many spots.

Watson has seven passing touchdowns to one interception through three games. He’s not putting up gaudy yardage totals, but the production has been efficient enough that he’s not hindering the Browns the way he has in the past. That’s a big difference from previous seasons, and it has Cleveland in a good spot heading into a primetime divisional matchup.

The early returns this season suggest Watson is playing well enough to win games, and that alone separates this season from the ones before it.