Credit is not always shared equally during a winning season. Dominant defenses make headlines, emerging young players make noise, and sometimes the player who makes the biggest play late in games gets lost in the conversation. It can even happen at quarterback, especially when the overall numbers aren’t stellar. One longtime Browns insider believes it’s happening in Cleveland right now.
Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot made the case for Deshaun Watson with Ken Carman and Anthony Lima on 92.3 The Fan.
“He’s still working off the rust because he’s been out for 22 months and has had 3 surgeries over the last couple of years, including two on his Achilles. He’s still getting the rust off and working things out, but I don’t think he gets enough credit for the 4 plays he made in the fourth quarter,” Cabotcu said.
“Without him, it wouldn’t be 4-2.”
➡️ @MaryKayCabot w/ @KenCarman & @SportsBoyTony on Deshaun Watson’s fourth quarter play and why he deserves more credit for the #Browns’ 4-2 start. pic.twitter.com/x1IfK7oJPo
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) October 22, 2026
Before this season, Watson hadn’t played a regular season game since October 2024, and many people doubted he would look like a capable starter again.
Instead, every Browns victory came in the 4th quarter. He found Blake Whiteheart to go ahead in Tampa Bay and hit Harold Fannin Jr. late against the Carolina Panthers. Against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, he moved the offense into range for Andre Szmyt’s game-winning field goals in the closing seconds.
This gives Watson the most 4 game drives in the NFL, ahead of Bo Nix, Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes. He also became the first Browns quarterback since Brian Sipe in 1980 to throw touchdowns in the final four minutes of back-to-back games.
The full game numbers explain why it was overlooked. Watson ranks in the middle of the league in passer rating, and the offense also has some ugly stretches, including a 46-yarder in the 1st half against Baltimore.
Most of it is not on him. Watson was sacked 24 times and faced pressure like almost every player in the league. Despite that, he threw 7 touchdown passes against just 2 interceptions and protected the football when games were on the line.
Cabot’s argument is about what wins games. Cleveland’s defense makes opponents accessible, but someone still has to finish the job. Without Watson’s late drives, the Browns could easily be 0-6, and that perspective is often missing when people talk about starting.
He is in the final year of his contract and every clutch moment adds up to work for his future. The Browns begin a 3-game road trip at Tennessee on Sunday, and if those games come down to the final minutes again, Watson has shown he can deliver.
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