When the Browns opted to provide Deshaun Watson a fully-guaranteed $230 million contract closing season, they did so with the hope that the gifted hurler — and alleged sexual abuser — would post numbers akin to those who he recorded whilst in Houston.
What they have gotten since is middling manufacturing. Watson has regarded decidedly pedestrian in Cleveland colours. And on Monday, that torpidity surfaced in a large means.
Tasked with dealing with off in opposition to the Steelers protection, Watson and the Browns unquestionably had a problem on their palms. T.J. Watt is a risk, thrashing into the backfield to reason mayhem for pitcher and tailback alike. Minkah Fitzpatrick surveys the skies like an air visitors controller, able to pounce on any errant particles that floats into his stratosphere.
However given Watson’s status across the league — and his large price-tag — it appeared affordable to think that possibly he may string in combination an above-average efficiency.
What adopted was once absolutely the reverse. In mild of it, many other people around the recreation are questioning simply what that contract may seem like going ahead.
MORE: Protection reigns ideally suited as Pittsburgh captures first win of season
So with that, here is what you want to learn about Watson’s stats from Monday night time.
Deshaun Watson stats as of late
Watson was once about as useless as might be, suffering too to find a lot of a rhythm whilst being often jabbed via the likes of Watt and Highsmith.
If truth be told, it was once Highsmith who put the primary snare into Watson’s pathway, getting his sizable mittens on Cleveland’s first play from scrimmage — a dart from Watson.
The ball tumbled and danced during the air as he fell into Highsmith’s hands. However sooner or later, it dropped. And Highsmith discovered outdoor in a while thereafter, opening the scoring with a flourish.
It set the degree for a frantic efficiency from Watson and Co. There have been some just right moments — like a pair dulcet notes left for Amari Cooper. However extra continuously than no longer, Watson struggled.
MORE: Nick Chubb suffers grotesque knee harm vs. Steelers
He finished simply 22 of his 40 passes (55% crowning glory price) at the day, smartly beneath his occupation common (66.6%). Watson tallied simply 235 passing yards on Monday, tossing one landing to that wretched interception.
His efficiency at the floor was once even worse. Watson netted six carries for 22 yards. No longer too dangerous, proper? However he put Pittsburgh at the ascendancy on two other events, coughing up the ball no longer as soon as however two times — one in every of which led to a game-winning Watt go back for landing.
Watson’s efficiency wasn’t changing into of a hurler who has essentially the most enviable contract in NFL historical past. He is been not anything wanting putrid since arriving in The Land, the entire whilst showcasing the league’s willingness to excuse reprehensible habits at the account of whether or not an individual could make their final analysis extra interesting.
In all, it is was once a rancid show for Cleveland, whose offense straddled between frustration and whole opacity as soon as Nick Chubb went down because of a grotesque knee harm.
With Chubb at the mend of the foreseeable long term, the Browns want extra from its marquee title beneath heart. If no longer, they are doomed to copy the historical past in their predecessors; shedding early and continuously whilst appearing little to no danger with the ball of their palms.
