The Cleveland Browns are 3-1 and sit alone atop the AFC North for the first time since 2014. You read that right. The Browns have won three of their first four games, and few people saw that coming from a young roster with Deshaun Watson playing quarterback.

Cleveland’s latest win came against the Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-24. The Browns led 21-10 at halftime. Without the turnovers and penalties that kept piling up, Pittsburgh probably never would have been in the game in the second half.

Still, the Browns found a way to close it out. Watson was a big reason why.

Deshaun Watson outplayed Aaron Rodgers

Watson outplayed Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers, plain and simple. Watson completed 24-of-33 passes for 268 yards, one touchdown pass, and one interception. He was sacked twice and added 22 rushing yards.

Watson is getting the ball to Cleveland’s young playmakers. Wide receiver Denzel Boston had four catches for 89 yards, and fellow wide receiver KC Concepcion added five catches for 64 yards.

Through four games, Watson is playing acceptable football for the Browns. He’s giving this team a chance to win every week, and that’s all Cleveland has needed from the position.

It’s a far cry from where things stood a couple of months ago. Watson had a rough outing against the Buffalo Bills during the preseason, and he was booed off the field. After the win over the Steelers, Watson opened up about his mindset and how he has handled the ups and downs.

“It’s all God,” Watson said. “Just let him take the wheel and he controls everything else. Nothing changed, I think just being able to show my character, show who I am as a person. Speak the truth, continue to pray and do everything right and live right. Try to win games and play good football. I let him control everything else.”

It’s a great opportunity, great moment. I want to continue to ride this wave with the fanbase, and the city, and the organization.  We’re 3-1, and that’s a great feeling. We’re doing it for the city.”

The tide has turned on Watson in Cleveland for now

Watson hasn’t been in the good graces of Cleveland fans for much of his time with the team. The Browns traded for him from the Houston Texans in 2022, and things haven’t gone according to plan since.

Between the suspension and injuries, Watson has never played in more than seven games in a season for the Browns. His inability to be the franchise quarterback fans wanted left a sour taste with the fan base for a long time.

However, winning cures everything in the NFL. If Watson plays well and the Browns keep winning games, Cleveland fans are going to get behind him. The quick shift in how fans view Watson shows how fast the tide can turn in this league.

Before the season, a lot of the chatter centered on Shedeur Sanders taking over as the starting quarterback. Right now, that conversation isn’t happening at all.

Watson is giving the Browns a chance, and that’s what the fan base has waited years to see. Now Cleveland is finally getting it, and the fans are showing Watson he’s accepted.

Keeping it going won’t be easy in a division like the AFC North. Time will tell if Watson can ride this wave the rest of the way, but the Browns have earned every bit of their spot at the top for now.