Factory Of Sadness
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3 Good and 3 Bad: Deshaun Watson uneven as the Cleveland Browns kiss the playoffs goodbye

By Chad Porto

Dec 11, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) throws in the first quarter during a Week 14 NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kareem Elgazzar-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) throws in the first quarter during a Week 14 NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kareem Elgazzar-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 11, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns place kicker Cade York (3) kicks a field goal in the second quarter of the NFL Week 14 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kareem Elgazzar-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns place kicker Cade York (3) kicks a field goal in the second quarter of the NFL Week 14 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kareem Elgazzar-USA TODAY Sports /

The Good

The defense in the first quarter

Man, the defense in the first quarter was incredible. They were disrupting plays, causing fits for Joe Burrows, making the Bengals settle for underneath stuff, and basically playing like we always knew they could. If only that had lasted.

Deshaun Watson’s accuracy

I don’t think Deshaun Watson needed time to acclimate to the speed of the game in Houston, I think he was rattled emotionally and it showed because he looked much calmer in Cincinnati.  He hit a few very nice balls, and took advantage of some of his receiver’s more natural athletic gifts, like David Njoku. That said, even though he made Donovan Peoples-Jones look like a Pro Bowler, the fact he and Amari Cooper couldn’t connect is concerning.

Special Teams

The special teams thrived in all aspects. Good punting, solid field goal and extra point work, and great returns. Not sure why it took this long to get right but we’re glad to see it.

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