Browns' Watson Struggles, Bears Dominate in NFL Week 1

3:12 AM ETDeveloping

Sports Desk

In Short: In the first week of the NFL season, the Cleveland Browns struggled under Deshaun Watson, while the Chicago Bears put on a scoring showcase.

Deshaun Watson had a disastrous start as the Cleveland Browns' quarterback in Week 1, completing just 16 of 22 passes for 205 yards and a touchdown, while also throwing an interception and taking five sacks. The Browns' offensive woes were compounded by a fumble, which they recovered, and they managed only 272 yards of total offense and 10 points in their 34-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Coach Todd Monken defended Watson's performance but acknowledged the need to evaluate everything before committing to him as the starter for Week 2.

According to reports, Watson's poor performance in Week 1 might be all it takes to end his run as the Browns' starting quarterback. His first game since the 2024 season was marked by a series of mistakes, including an interception on the opening drive and a fumble. The Browns' defense was also unable to contain Trevor Lawrence, who went 18 for 23 for 245 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions.

Fans of the Cleveland Browns were vocal in their disappointment, with many calling for Watson to be replaced by Shedeur Sanders. Watson's off-the-field issues, which led to an 11-game suspension in 2022, have not endeared him to the fanbase. Given the polarizing nature of Watson, it's no surprise that the Browns' fans were not supportive of his performance. The team's investment in Watson, including a record-setting fully guaranteed $230 million contract, has not yielded the expected results, leading to increased pressure on the quarterback.

What's still developing

For the Bears, a 59-point onslaught is compelling evidence that they are in for a monster year.
The heralded offensive mastermind said this preseason that he aims to field the highest-scoring offense in league history -- one that rivals the 2013 Denver Broncos, who averaged 37.9 points per game.
Week 1 rolled along on Sunday with an unforgettable opener between the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans, an offensive showcase from the Chicago Bears and, on the not-so-positive end, a clunker from Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns.
Here are the biggest winners and losers from Sunday's Week 1 action.
Unless he strings together cleaner performances going forward and the Browns start winning, the odds are stacked against him keeping the job, and calls for Shedeur Sanders will only grow louder.
The Browns, meanwhile, left with major question marks at their most important position.
Not many winners from Formula 1's 2026 Spanish Grand Prix - and even the actual race winner felt he really deserved to be second.
Given what Watson said about Browns fans during the preseason, calling them out for cheering when he got injured two seasons ago, it should come as no surprise that the polarizing QB didn’t get a warm reception from anyone.

Sources

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