The Cleveland Browns have once again pulled a rabbit out of their hat with a fourth-quarter drive orchestrated by Deshaun Watson and finished off by Andre Szmyt. The Browns drove down the field and set up a 37-yard field goal that started a new strike for the former Syracuse kicker.
The game was far from good, though, for the Browns, as they managed to have just seven yards in the first quarter and finished with just 237 yards of total offense. The defense bailed them out by stepping up after a rough start to the game that had Derrick Henry running all over Cleveland.
Cleveland got mixed results on both sides of the ball, but a win is a win over another division rival. With the stag set, we have some instant takeaways to share.
The Browns still need to replace Deshaun Watson
Deshaun Watson has four fourth-quarter winning drives this season, and the Browns have four wins on the year to match. They are 4-2, in the division lead for the first time since 2014, and I still am saying they need to find a long-term replacement for the veteran. He has played downright awful for long stretches of games, games that would be blowouts if not for the defense bailing him out, and this team deserves a young quarterback they can develop with this unit. There may not be a grand prize like an Arch Manning or Dante Moore at the end of the rainbow anymore, but players like Trinidad Chambliss or Drew Mestemaker would still be much better passers in place of Watson.
The Browns need to keep Jerry Jeudy
Jerry Jeudy has not been used to his potential in 2026, and that can be partially blamed on two things. One, this offense got some new pieces in rookie wide receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston. The second being Todd Monken is implementing his system and is still figuring out the best way to get guys involved after Week 6. What we have seen from Jeudy when he is targeted is that his hands remain reliable, he can create after the catch, and that is why he should stick around on this team.
This defense is among the best in the NFL
This defense was missing Mason Graham, and you didn't even notice it in Week 6. Derrick Henry had his usual struggle game against the Browns on Sunday, and that was without the Browns' top defender on the defensive line. This unit, through injury, has exposed itself as one of the deeper units and one that is full of playmakers at every level. Denzel Ward is playing like an All-Pro again, and just like the offense, young players are stepping up. All in all, this is the perfect combination for this defense to be in the top tier of units across the NFL.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: 3 Instant takeaways from the Browns win over the Ravens in Week 6