Deshaun Watson's best Browns outing proved to be 'perfect timing' after Nick Chubb injury

CLEVELAND — There has been a sighting.

The version of Deshaun Watson the Browns envisioned when they pulled off a blockbuster, controversial trade for him on March 18, 2022, made an appearance in Sunday's dominant 27-3 victory over the visiting Tennessee Titans.

Watson learned last week he's playing in a tough town for quarterbacks and then took the necessary steps to silence criticism about his on-field performance.

Despite a moment of temporary insanity, the robbery of a long touchdown pass and a forearm to the neck, Watson rose to the occasion the way the Browns had hoped he would in the aftermath of four-time Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb suffering a season-ending knee injury.

Watson's best game with the Browns and a lights-out defensive effort resulted in a rout at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

“You saw some of those deep shots that he was taking, and that's what we expect from him,” All-Pro left guard Joel Bitonio told the Beacon Journal. “We understand it takes time to get back in the swing of things, but I think that's one game you can definitely build off of.

“Just from playing against him, seeing what he's done in the past, that's in there somewhere. You know what I mean? It's been a couple years, but that's in there somewhere.”

The Browns had seen glimpses of the Pro Bowl-edition of Watson. He had a stellar second half highlighted by three touchdown passes last season in a 24-10 win over the Washington Commanders on New Year's Day.

But it took until Watson's ninth regular-season start with the Browns for him to deliver a well-rounded, complete showing.

“It's perfect timing,” four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Myles Garrett said.

Watson helped the Browns (2-1) rebound from an emotionally draining week headlined by Chubb's devastating setback in a 26-22 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on “Monday Night Football.”

After Watson began this season with back-to-back lackluster outings, the Browns needed him to seize control because the security blanket Chubb provided no longer existed.

Watson responded by completing 27 of 33 passes (81.8%) for 289 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. He posted a passer rating of 123.4, rushed four times for 16 yards and took three sacks from the Titans (1-2).

Afterward, linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. called Chubb “the whole motivation” for the Browns and said the theme would continue for the rest of this season.

Bitonio said coach Kevin Stefanski dedicated a game ball to Chubb “because there's no better person that represents the Cleveland Browns than Nick Chubb, and every game we're going to play for him.”

And Watson revealed Chubb presented him with an inspirational message last week when they spoke at team headquarters in Berea.

“He just looked me dead in my eyes and [conveyed], 'I need it, and go get it,'” Watson said. “And it was no smile, no joking. It was a serious face because you can tell the depression, you can tell the sadness. He's got a long road ahead of him, but he's going to come back stronger.

“He knows that it's in me — it's in us. And as the leader of the team and as the leader of the offense, I got to take charge of that and I got to fill some of those holes and voids."

If Watson takes off from here, credit Chubb with an assist for a wake-up call.

When Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam signed off on trading first three-round draft picks and additional choices to the Houston Texans in exchange for Watson, this is what they had in mind.

When they approved of giving him a record-setting $230 million guaranteed, this is what they had in mind.

When they decided they wouldn't be dissuaded by the divisive nature of the move, given more than two dozen women had accused Watson of sexual misconduct or sexual assault during massage appointments, this is what they had in mind.

Simply put, the Haslams thought the baggage and concerns attached to Watson's name were worth the risks because he could bring the Browns a Super Bowl one day.

Fast-forward to last week, and many Browns fans were demanding a refund for Watson, a three-time Pro Bowl selection (2018-20) with the Texans who went 700 days without playing due to a combination of his off-field trouble and a trade request in Houston.

Watson conceded he was aware of the criticism.

“It comes with the territory,” he said. “But to [whom] much is given, much is required.

“I can't be down too low, and I can't be too high after this game. I've got to be balanced.”

The next step for Watson, 28, is achieving consistency.

The Titans have a dreadful pass defense. It allowed quarterbacks Derek Carr of the New Orleans Saints and Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers to each throw for exactly 305 yards in the first two games.

Stefanski kept the game plan simple and allowed Watson to work the perimeter against a struggling secondary.

Watson was familiar with the opponent, too, having thrown 17 touchdown passes and five interceptions in six previous AFC South games against the Titans.

No one should expect everything to continue to line up in Watson's favor the way it did Sunday.

But at the same time, the way Watson operated in Week 3 could become a legitimate stepping stone if he processes it well.

“I just let everything just come to me,” Watson said. “Don't try to press the issue. Don't try to force the issue. Just control my emotions, my energy, and really just channel that.”

Everything could have gone awry early in the second quarter when Watson panicked a la Brandon Weeden. Remember in 2013 when Weeden thrust the ball forward with a long, awkward shovel pass to avoid a sack, only to throw an interception the Detroit Lions turned into a game-clinching touchdown?

Well, Watson was about to be sacked by defensive end Denico Autry when he freaked out and tried to throw the ball backward to wide receiver Elijah Moore. Watson and Stefanski later joked it's a play they have practiced. Laughs were acceptable because Moore recovered the fumble, albeit for a 16-yard loss, the Browns bounced back to end the same drive with Watson's 19-yard touchdown pass to running back Jerome Ford and Cleveland prevailed in the end.

On the same eventful, nine-play, 75-yard drive, Watson took a forearm to the neck from outside linebacker Arden Key and was shaken up. He didn't miss a snap until the Browns inserted rookie backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson with 4:49 left to play because the outcome had been sealed.

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Later in the second quarter, Watson had a 65-yard touchdown pass to receiver Amari Cooper stolen by the officials. Cooper was incorrectly ruled to have stepped out of bounds at the Tennessee 40-yard line after he made a catch along the Cleveland sideline. The play was not reviewable after being whistled dead, so it went for 25 yards instead of a TD. Dustin Hopkins made a 52-yard field goal four snaps later, meaning the Browns were ultimately shortchanged four points.

Watson and Cooper eventually got their long TD — a 43-yard completion — to bury the Titans with 6:51 left in the fourth quarter.

On Ford's TD catch, he beat linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair with a double move, faking a slant route before breaking for the end zone.

On Cooper's TD, he ran right between cornerback Kristian Fulton and safety Amani Hooker.

Ford and Cooper were wide open when they grabbed the TD passes, but the bottom line is Watson made the plays.

“He's settling in,” running back Kareem Hunt said. “He's definitely playing with that confidence and fire. Watson's a great quarterback. He's just got to relax and be the guy he is.”

Watson will determine which guy shows up next.

More on Browns and Nick Chubb: Kareem Hunt honors Cleveland Browns star running back with shirt before Titans game

Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Deshaun Watson Browns had envisioned in trade emerges in win