Winning ugly beats losing pretty every single time in the NFL. Ask Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken, who finds himself sitting at 4-2 atop the AFC North despite an offense that still looks far from polished.
Through six weeks of the season, the Browns have managed to stack wins through sheer grit and late-game execution. Yet, Monken hasn't hesitated to admit the obvious: his Cleveland Browns offense could be a lot smoother.
If you've watched this team stumble out of the gate, you know exactly what he means. But in a league where style points do not count on the scoreboard, records dictate reality. Let's look at why this uneven start shouldn't panic you, and what actually needs fixing in Cleveland.
The Problem With Slow Starts
You can't ignore the numbers, because they paint a brutal picture of Cleveland's early-game execution. The Browns have allowed a league-high 44 points in the first quarter alone, getting outscored by 38 points during the opening 15 minutes of games.
They are averaging a league-low 42 yards of offense in the first quarter. Opponents are averaging 94.7 yards allowed against them early on, which ranks third worst in the NFL. When you spot teams an early advantage every single week, you are playing football on hard mode.
Monken didn't expect these growing pains when he took over. "I would just say you're expecting it to go a lot smoother than it's gone," Monken noted. "I would just say that. But I'm not frustrated."
Why are they struggling so badly out of the gate? A mix of youthful mistakes and offensive line shuffling plays a massive role. Rookie left tackle Spencer Fano had a rough outing against Baltimore, giving up eight pressures and a sack to veteran pass rushers. When your protection breaks down immediately, rhythm dies.
Finding Answers in the Clutch
Despite the sluggish openings, Cleveland keeps finding ways to close. Sunday's 13-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens proved that this group thrives when the margin for error shrinks to zero.
Deshaun Watson has leaned heavily into quick, decisive throws to beat heavy pressure packages. In that matchup against Baltimore, Watson targeted receivers on in-breaking routes 15 times, completing 11 of those passes for 148 yards. That 57.7% rate marked the highest percentage of attempts on those routes by any NFL quarterback in a single game this season.
Monken's scheme is starting to lean into what works rather than forcing concepts that stall out. When you cannot run the ball consistently due to injuries—like losing running back Quinshon Judkins to an ankle issue—you have to adapt. Watson getting the ball out of his hands quickly to intermediate targets has kept drives alive when everything else looked broken.
Depth Being Tested Early
A 4-2 record sounds great, but the injury report threatens to derail the momentum. Safety Grant Delpit suffered a concussion early against Baltimore, forcing rookie safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren into action. McNeil-Warren responded by playing 54 of 57 defensive snaps, racking up six tackles, a tackle for loss, and a pass defensed.
That kind of rookie step-up keeps teams afloat during brutal stretches. However, relying on depth pieces long-term is risky business. Linebacker Justin Jefferson also left with a hip injury, adding to a laundry list of physical tolls on a roster playing a grueling schedule.
Cleveland hits the road for the next three weeks, starting with a trip to Tennessee followed by a rematch with Pittsburgh and a visit to New Orleans. If they want to stay ahead of the Ravens and Steelers, they cannot afford another month of zero-point first quarters.
Fixing the pre-snap penalties and sorting out early-game play-calling are non-negotiable priorities for Monken's staff. Clean up the opening scripts, protect the young pieces on the line, and let the late-game clutch gene take over when it matters most.
