Deshaun Watson responds to critics after win over Buccaneers: 'Monken said what he said'

Watson enjoyed his highest passer rating in a game since September 2023, despite ongoing criticisms. It was personal for the Cleveland Browns following Sunday's win in Tampa, a potential momentum-booster for first-year coach Todd Monken and his franchise quarterback, Deshaun Watson. Monken's expletive-enforced postgame response to a take from Mike Tomlin was triggering for a franchise that has faced criticism nationally as one of the NFL's also-rans not expected to do much this season. "I wouldn't say it was a topic of conversation, but Monk said what he said and that's how we all feel," said Watson, who threw for 238 yards and two touchdowns, including the go-ahead score with 3:51 to play.

After Monken refused to name a starting quarterback entering the season, Watson's numbers were pedestrian during last week's opening loss to Jacksonville and led to the former first-round pick saying outsiders have put unfair pressure on Cleveland's offense. "I think the media has this expectation that I'm supposed to throw [for] 400 yards and five touchdowns every week. So, until that happens, I guess it's going to be the same situation," Watson said prior to Sunday's bounce-back victory. "Again, my job is to make sure I'm operating well so we can try to get a win and keep moving forward from there. Finding completions, operating well." Watson