CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Browns rallied from a 15-point deficit to beat the Ravens 33-31 on Sunday in Baltimore. But there was more going on around the NFL than just what happened in this AFC North showdown.
Each week we review the biggest storylines and explore possible narratives from across the NFL.
To help us explore these storylines and narratives, we’re following in the footsteps of the 1990s show Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction, which you may know better from host Jonathan Frakes’ memes.
Just like Frakes, each week we decide whether some of the top storylines from across the league are fact or fiction. Here are the six biggest storylines this week.
More coverage of the Cleveland Browns
1. The Browns can win the AFC North if Deshaun Watson helped knock off the Ravens
Verdict: fact.
Deshaun Watson got off to a terrible start in Baltimore, throwing a pick-six on the second play from scrimmage and completing 1 of 9 passes. But in the second half, Watson had his first real signature moment, showing why the Browns gave up six draft picks and paid $230 million to bring him to Cleveland.
Watson was 14 of 14 for 134 yards and a touchdown in the second half to help the Browns come back and beat the Ravens. He finished 20 of 34 for 213 yards, a TD and an INT.
With the comeback win, the Browns are now 6-3, just half a game behind the Ravens for first place in the AFC North. They also split the season series, taking the potential tiebreaker out of the game.
The move to Watson has been stressful for the Browns for much of the first season and a half since the trade. But in this game, Watson looked like his Houston self against an elite opponent. Although Watson didn’t have his best three tackles, and after a poor start, he led his team in two touchdown drives, in addition to the game-winning drive at the end of the game.
This is the Watson they’ve been waiting for. And that Watson can give the Browns a legitimate chance to win the AFC North. According to the New York Times playoff simulator, the Browns now have a 31% chance of winning the AFC North.
The focus suddenly shifts to a home game against the Steelers in Week 11. A win not only eliminates another head-to-head tiebreaker, but also guarantees a record of at least .500 in the division.
They have won games with their defense and sometimes even in spite of the quarterback. They won on Sunday thanks in large part to the performance of their quarterback.
The next step is for Watson to build on this. He was unable to extend his game against the Titans because he strained his right rotator cuff. But Sunday’s second half was Watson’s finest moment since arriving in Cleveland.
It’s the kind of elite quarterback play that allows a team to win a game like the Browns did in Baltimore. And if the Browns continue to have success, they can do what they haven’t done in 34 years and win the very tough AFC North.
2. Thursday night’s game against the Bengals is the biggest of the Ravens season
Verdict: fact.
Narratives in the NFL can change in an instant. A week ago, the Ravens looked like the best team in football, and the Bengals looked like they were going on a long winning streak like they did a year ago.
But after the Ravens lost at home to the Browns and the Bengals lost to the suddenly red-hot Texans, the feelings in Baltimore and Cincinnati are different day and night than they were a week ago.
The only good news for both teams is that they have a chance to redeem themselves when they meet on Thursday night in Baltimore. However, it appears this could be a pivotal game for the Ravens.
Their lead at the top of the AFC North is tenuous after just half a game with the Steelers and Browns lurking. A loss means the Browns and Steelers will play in Cleveland for first place in the AFC North.
It doesn’t help, to say the least, that the Ravens face a gauntlet to finish the season. They will face the Chargers in Week 12 before their bye week.
After hosting the Rams, they must travel to Jacksonville and San Francisco before hosting the Dolphins and Steelers in the final four weeks.
That’s why Thursday night’s game could define Baltimore’s season. The Ravens need the division title more than the Bengals. Cincinnati could enter the playoffs as a wild card and still make it to the Super Bowl thanks to Joe Burrow and what he has done in the last two postseasons.
At this point, it would be a shock if the Ravens missed the playoffs. But after blowing a 15-point lead to the Browns, they’ll need to get back on track quickly against the Bengals on Thursday night. Otherwise, their season could take a different turn.
3. Joshua Dobbs makes Kirk Cousins expendable in Minnesota
Verdict: Fiction.
The story of Joshua Dobbs in Minnesota is quickly becoming a fairy tale. Dobbs came off the bench a week ago and led the Vikings to a win just five days after being dealt to Minnesota.
He had another impressive day on Sunday, leading the Vikings to a 27-19 win over the Saints. He completed 23 of 34 passes for 268 yards and a touchdown and also ran eight times for 44 yards and another touchdown.
With the win, the Vikings remain in a great position to make the playoffs at 6-4, which is impressive considering they started the season 1-4 and Kirk Cousins is due to a Achilles tendon rupture.
However, what Dobbs is doing doesn’t mean the Cousins era is over. Cousins is a free agent after the season, but he could easily return, especially if the Vikings are unable to land a quarterback highlight in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Vikings have to play against the Lions twice more and travel to Cincinnati. But with what Dobbs has done, the Vikings should easily return to the playoffs.
It is not a long-term solution. But it’s a great story, and it’s perfect for a very special trip in Minnesota.
4. The Patriots should move on from Bill Belichick
Verdict: fact.
This would have been unthinkable just a year ago. But the Patriots have really regressed this season, due in large part to poor quarterback play. The Patriots are now just 2-8 after losing to the Colts 10-6 in Frankfurt, Germany.
Mac Jones threw an interception in the red zone with 4:24 left in the fourth quarter, and Bailey Zappe, who immediately replaced Jones on the following drive, also threw an interception on a fake spike.
The Patriots now face a rebuild. What they probably need is a fresh face to run the operation.
Bill Belichick may be the greatest head coach in modern NFL history. However, nothing lasts forever and it may be time for the Patriots to find a new coach and general manager to lead this rebuild.
5. The Texans will keep the Bills and Bengals out of the playoffs
Verdict: Fiction.
Don’t look now, but the Houston Texans are locked in a playoff spot heading into Week 11. Imagine saying that at the end of last season, when their Week 18 win in Indianapolis cost them the first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
But second place was the best thing that could have happened because it gave them CJ Stroud, who was special. After leading a stunning comeback against the Buccaneers a week ago, Stroud was once again the hero, as despite blowing a 10-point lead against the Bengals in the final minutes, Stroud led one again with a 30-27 win in Cincinnati game-winning drive.
Stroud was 23 of 39 passing for 356 yards, a touchdown and just his second interception of the season. He also rushed to get a score.
As it stands, they would be in the playoffs at the expense of the Bills and Bengals, who have played in the AFC Championship Games the last three seasons.
However, since the season still has eight weeks to go, I don’t see this being the case at the moment.
The NFL is a different world when you’re the hunter and not the hunted. The Texans are no longer sneaking up on anyone and it will be fascinating to see how they adapt.
A tough defense awaits them as they still play the Jaguars, Jets and Browns. What they also have is a quarterback who impresses them.
This is not to be underestimated.
But that also applies to the Bills and Bengals. They were there too, which is what counts.
While the Texans will certainly be in the playoffs until the end, it feels like either the Bills or Bengals will get hot in the final eight weeks and return to the playoffs. Houston won’t be able to keep both teams out.
6. The 49ers have returned to themselves
Verdict: fact.
The bye week couldn’t have come at a better time for the San Francisco 49ers. After a 5-0 start, they had lost three games in a row.
But with a week off to get healthy, the 49ers looked like the 5-0 version of themselves as they soundly dominated the Jaguars in Jacksonville, 34-3.
The offense gained 437 yards as Brock Purdy threw for 296 and three touchdowns. The defense also made life difficult for Jacksonville, tackling Trevor Lawrence twice, sacking him five times and forcing four turnovers.
Deebo Samuel was back and caused a stir with a quick touchdown.
The 49ers are now 6-3 and after a week off, they look like the same team that took off at the start of the season.