Overreacting, underreacting and properly reacting to Browns' Week 3 loss to Giants

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Overreacting, underreacting and properly reacting to Browns' Week 3 loss to Giants

Chris Easterling, Akron Beacon Journal · Akron Beacon Journal

Tue, Sep 24, 2024 ·

3 min read

Proper reaction: Deshaun Watson 's going to set sack records at this rate

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) is sacked by New York Giants defensive tackle Elijah Chatman (94) during the first half Sunday in Cleveland.

It's only three games, and there was a game in which Deshaun Watson was only sacked once. However, to have been sacked 16 times three games into a season is more than just mildly concerning. It's an absolutely major concern. It's easy to blame the offensive line, and the Browns offensive line is in a place right now because of injuries. Still, it's not all on the blocking. Watson went back at times to holding the ball too long, including on one of Brian Burns ' two sacks. There's no guarantee the line ever gets completely healthy at the rate it's going. Either it gets rectified and rectified fast or it's going to be another wasted season under what is looking by the drop back like the worst trade in NFL history.

Overreaction: Dustin Hopkins has lost the long-distance magic he had since coming to Cleveland

Cleveland Browns holder Corey Bojorquez (13) celebrates with kicker Dustin Hopkins (7) during the first half against the New York Giants on Sunday in Cleveland.

Not sure exactly how much of a topic this is, but it was legitimately jarring to see Dustin Hopkins' 53-yard field goal go wide left. That's how good Hopkins had been from 50 yards and beyond since the Browns acquired him from the Los Angeles Chargers right before last season. He had made 10 in a row from that distance until Sunday's miss. There may be some who wonder if that's a sign that yet another Browns kicker not named Phil Dawson has proven to have a very short shelf life. Those people would be wise not to overreact to one miss out of all of the ones Hopkins has made in a little more than a year.

Underreaction: Myles Garrett 's pain tolerance

Cleveland Browns defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire, left, celebrates with defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during the first half against the New York Giants on Sunday in Cleveland.

Cleveland Browns defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire, left, celebrates with defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during the first half of an NFL football game at Huntington Bank Field, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio.

Defensive end Myles Garrett looked like he needed a wheelchair as he ambled around the Browns locker room after Sunday's game. The pain in his feet clearly was impacting him in that moment, as it had for the better part of three weeks. Twice during the game, Garrett went to the medical tent to be checked on for issues that arose from trying to overcompensate for the feet. Yet, even on the play that left him crumpled on the ground in pain, the amazing athleticism and burst was there as he nearly got to Giants quarterback Daniel Jones . The postgame pain from which he was clearly suffering didn't start once he got behind closed doors; it existed even while he was on the field. To play at a high level, which Garrett did with nine total pressures in the game, while having that pain in your lower extremities takes a kind of mental will power that may be one of his greatest talents.

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ