Browns 27, Titans 3: Deshaun Watson, Myles Garrett lead Cleveland to impressive bounce-back victory

CLEVELAND — Coach Kevin Stefanski looked at his team Tuesday and knew everything was going to be OK.The Browns had wasted a golden opportunity to beat the rival Steelers on Monday night and lost running back Nick Chubb to a season-ending knee injury. Yet hours later the players were ready to embrace the theme of the week: resilience."The look in their eyes on Tuesday told me they were going to bounce back," Stefanski said Sunday, beaming like a proud father.The Browns left Monday night in the rear-view mirror and did what they promised to do: win for Chubb. Quarterback Deshaun Watson played his best game in nine starts for the Browns, defensive end Myles Garrett led a third straight dominant defensive performance and the Browns cruised to a 27-3 win over the Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns Stadium.Myles Garrett wrecks game with 3.5 sacks, 'just happy' to help team get big win"It was the energy of the team," said Watson, who completed 27 of 33 passes (81.8 percent) for 289 yards, two touchdowns and a 123.4 passer rating. "There were no sad faces, there were no complaints, no excuses. Everyone wanted to respond."The defense led the way, again looking like something special. It held the Titans (1-2) to 94 yards, their fewest since 1974 when they were the Houston Oilers. The Titans had six first downs — the Browns (2-1) have given up a league-low 21 through three games — and went 2-for-12 on third down.Amari Cooper grateful to finally catch touchdown after getting 'robbed' off oneDefensive end Myles Garrett was the star of the show with 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble. He was so far inside the Titans' heads, they burned a timeout when they couldn't get the snap off in time because two tight ends followed Garrett from side to side.You guys ever seen a defensive player motion back and fourth pre snap and TWO offensive players follow him!?! 😂😂 … caused a delay of game! @Flash_Garrett is DIFFERENT! pic.twitter.com/TZhGYAUlts— Andrew Hawkins (@Hawk) September 24, 2023https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"That's a first for me," said Garrett, who also drew holding and false start penalties. "I was going to keep on messing around with them, seeing as they couldn't snap the ball like that. So I was just having a little bit of fun and wherever they settled, I was going to go the other way. So we were just going to play this cat-and-mouse game all day."#Browns Myles Garrett says defense has chance to be special but must keep working. pic.twitter.com/1J3s5qQHXL— Scott Petrak ct (@ScottPetrak) September 24, 2023https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsCommentary: QB Deshaun Watson eases some worries with a performance reminiscent of his past glory daysThe Browns won every game they played Sunday.They needed this. So did Watson.Criticism of the former Pro Bowler had mounted, with some wondering if the 700-day layoff and sexual misconduct accusations and suspension had ruined him. Watson made a strong counterargument with by far his best completion percentage since the Browns traded for him in March 2022. He made several quality throws, including sideline routes to Amari Cooper (seven catches, 116 yards, touchdown) and Donovan Peoples-Jones (three catches, 49 yards)."The biggest thing for me personally was just control my emotions," Watson said."He's one of one," said tight end David Njoku, who caught four passes for 20 yards. "So it ain't surprise me at all. I'm so happy for him and I know this is just a start."Not showing up on the stat sheet was Watson's toughness. He was drilled on an option run — he rushed four times for 16 yards — sacked three times and was forearmed in the neck by outside linebacker Arden Key for a roughing the passer penalty but didn't miss a snap.Four plays later after the roughing, Watson threw a 19-yard touchdown to running back Jerome Ford, who made his first NFL start in place of Chubb. Ford was lined up wide in an empty formation and easily beat linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair on a slant-and-go for a 10-3 lead with 9:39 left in the first half."I knew how tough he was," Cooper said, referencing a hit Watson absorbed from Reuben Foster when Clemson beat Alabama for the national championship. "I knew what type of playmaker he was from the get-go, 100 percent.""Having seen it up close, how he throws his body around, fights for extra yardage, very tough kid," Stefanski said.Watson's day ended with a 43-yard touchdown to Cooper, who ran right by two defenders on a play-action pass. Watson went straight to the sideline to celebrate with Stefanski, who had also taken heat after the loss to the Steelers.Watson wanted to do a jumping chest bump. Stefanski stayed planted."I was just fired up for him," said Stefanski, who improved to 7-0 vs. the AFC South. "But he's got to learn next time, I'm not jumping.""I thought he was going to jump with me, but he said that his Achilles and knees are not where they're supposed to be," Watson said. "And I was telling him I thought he played safety in college, so I thought he had some ups."Ford added a 3-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter for a 20-3 lead and some breathing room much appreciated by a tortured fan base. Ford rushed 10 times for 18 yards and caught two passes for 33.Kareem Hunt, who re-signed Wednesday after the Chubb injury, wore a No. 24 Chubb shirt to the game and was greeted by loud cheers for his first snap. He played about 10 snaps, rushing five times for 13 yards and catching two passes for 22 yards. He brought out his patented jump while running as he picked up a first down on a screen pass.The defense didn't let running back Derrick Henry get off the ground, holding him to 20 yards — his lowest total since 2017 — on 11 carries, a 1.8 average. He had minus-7 yards on four carries in the first half.The defense has given up one touchdown this season. In six red zone snaps — the first of the season for the defense — the Titans lost 19 yards. The second stop came to end the first half, with Garrett sacking Ryan Tannehill on third-and-10 from the 11. The clock ran out, as the Titans were out of timeouts.#Browns Amari Cooper on the defense. pic.twitter.com/E75KkUWiEa— Scott Petrak ct (@ScottPetrak) September 24, 2023https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"When Myles does that, he's the best player in the world," Watson said.Stefanski trusted his guys."Everybody talks always about culture, culture's people," he said. "I know the guys that are in that locker room."Nick not being here with us in that locker room, that hurts. But he's with us every time we're out there on the field. The spirit of what he brings to this team is with us."#Browns Kevin Stefanski knew the team would respond when he saw them early in week. Also said spirit of Nick Chubb is with team on field. pic.twitter.com/Gu8XpOs49U— Scott Petrak ct (@ScottPetrak) September 24, 2023https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsWhen Stefanski handed out game balls in the celebratory locker room, he kept one for Chubb, saying he'll hand it to him this week at Browns headquarters. Watson talked to Chubb on Saturday."He just looked me dead in my eyes and, 'I need it and go get it,'" Watson said of a win. "And it was no smile, no joking. It was a serious face because you can tell the sadness."The spirits are lifted and the pressure eased — at least until the Ravens (2-1) visit next Sunday. The Browns are 2-0 at home, beating the Bengals and Titans by a combined 51-6."We do it because of the home crowd and they make a difference," Stefanski said. "That Muni Lot, I'm sure, was rocking today, and then they carried it into the stadium."The post Browns 27, Titans 3: Deshaun Watson, Myles Garrett lead Cleveland to impressive bounce-back victory first appeared on BrownsZone with Scott Petrak.