<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0MmW5I_0vPw9jGW00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0MmW5I_0vPw9jGW00" width="1280" height="920" ><figcaption>Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson against the Dallas Cowboys, September 8, 2024</figcaption></figure>CLEVELAND, Ohio ­— Deshaun Watson and the Browns had a bad start to the season as they were blown out by the Cowboys on Sunday, 33-17. But there was more happening around the NFL in Week 1 than just the big game in Cleveland.Every week, we’ll go through the biggest storylines and examine potential narratives from around the NFL.To help us examine 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 the memes of host Jonathan Frakes.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2oWvix_0vPw9jGW00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2oWvix_0vPw9jGW00" width="480" height="360" ></figure>In an homage to Frakes, we will decide every week whether several of the top storylines from around the league are fact or fiction. Here are this week’s seven biggest storylines.Week 2 NFL Preview: Find everything you need to know with our <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/sports/previews/nfl-week-2/">Week 2 NFL preview.</a><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Tipped by Micah, picked by Kendricks! <a href="https://twitter.com/dallascowboys?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dallascowboys</a> 📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DALvsCLE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DALvsCLE</a> on FOX 📱: <a href="https://t.co/waVpO909ge">https://t.co/waVpO909ge</a><a href="https://t.co/KQeP7Jjmlu">pic.twitter.com/KQeP7Jjmlu</a>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1832898619982422504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2024</a><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote><h2>1. Deshaun Watson deserves the most blame for Sunday’s Browns loss</h2>Verdict: Fiction.Deshaun Watson’s return to the field on Sunday went very poorly for him and the Browns in a blowout loss to the Cowboys. Watson looked uncomfortable from the start and only really had one good drive all afternoon, throwing one touchdown and two interceptions.It was not a good game by any stretch and it’s fair to say that if he doesn’t get better, the Browns might have to consider contingency plans at quarterback. But by no means either is this more on Watson’s shoulders than anyone else.Just about every player on the Browns offense deserves blame.The Browns had numerous offensive pre-snap penalties, including multiple illegal formations. The offensive line, which was without Jedrick Wills Jr. and Jack Conklin, could not block the Cowboys pass rush as they had six sacks.Multiple receivers had drops, including Amari Cooper late in the game who dropped a wide-open touchdown albeit in garbage time. <a href="https://youtu.be/AokkoBEu1A0?si=kLERI80SpW43ilLZ&amp;t=10366">Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer once said</a> the quarterback is the product of those around him. While that may be different in the NFL because of how much they are asked to do, quarterbacks can’t do it all by themselves.As a whole, the operation let Watson down as much as he let the operation down. All of it simply has to be better, and pretty quickly before the season slips away. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Micah Parsons stays in the backfield 😤 📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DALvsCLE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DALvsCLE</a> on FOX 📱: <a href="https://t.co/waVpO909ge">https://t.co/waVpO909ge</a><a href="https://t.co/hZ6cjRqqyb">pic.twitter.com/hZ6cjRqqyb</a>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1832888317320520100?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2024</a><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote><h2>2. The Browns needed a better contingency plan at offensive tackle</h2>Verdict: Fact.The offensive tackle position was decimated by injuries last season, starting in Week 1 when Jack Conklin was lost for the season. They also lost Dawand Jones and Jedrick Wills Jr. to season-ending injuries.Sunday, only one of them (Jones) was back on the field. Wills and Conklin were both out as they continued to rehab their respective injuries, leaving James Hudson III to start at left tackle.Hudson has been a below-average player in his career, never grading higher than a 58 <a href="https://premium.pff.com/nfl/players/2021/REG/james-hudson/59854/offense-blocking">according to Pro Football Focus</a>. He had a 46.8 grade in 2023 when he played almost 600 snaps, and most of those were at right tackle.Unfortunately for Hudson, the task on Sunday was too tall against Dallas’ vaunted defense, and he and the line struggled to keep Deshaun Watson upright.Sunday’s performance by the offensive line was the kind that makes you second-guess whether the Browns front office should have been more aggressive in pursuing a contingency plan to upgrade the depth at tackle. In particular, a veteran like Donovan Smith might have been an ideal player who could have slid into this situation and held his own.Smith remains a free agent despite starting for the Chiefs at left tackle last season in 16 of a possible 21 games, including in the Super Bowl. While his <a href="https://premium.pff.com/nfl/players/2021/REG/donovan-smith/9467/offense-blocking">PFF grade has slid the last two seasons</a>, Smith is at least a solid, experienced lineman who can fill in for an emergency.Former Packers OT David Bakhtiari is available as well, but Smith is probably the better option.Ultimately, this is one game in what is a very long season. However, not upgrading from Hudson as a potential spot starter at left tackle feels like a mistake from Andrew Berry and the Browns front office.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Think you got a TD? THINK AGAIN. 📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NEvsCIN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NEvsCIN</a> on CBS/Paramount+ 📱: <a href="https://t.co/waVpO909ge">https://t.co/waVpO909ge</a><a href="https://t.co/IXOlJyHhJq">pic.twitter.com/IXOlJyHhJq</a>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1832841969128914986?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2024</a><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote><h2>3. The Ravens should be more worried after Week 1 loss than the Bengals</h2>Verdict: Fiction.The Browns aren’t the only AFC North team to lose in Week 1. The Ravens and Bengals also dropped to 0-1 to start the season.Baltimore’s loss in Kansas City on Thursday night had to be a gut punch. The Ravens outgained the Chiefs by 99 yards and Isaiah Likely continues to look really good. But the Ravens have questions in the middle of the offensive line that got exposed, and Derrick Henry did not look incredible as he had 46 yards on 13 carries with a longest run of nine.But if one of those teams should be panicking, it should be the Bengals.Yes there are issues with the future of the receiver position with Tee Higgins, who didn’t play on Sunday, playing on the franchise tag and Ja’Marr Chase having a dispute over a new contract.But the Bengals are just simply more talented than the Patriots. The Bengals lost two fumbles, one of which took a touchdown off the board and another that led to a New England field goal.However, what was more concerning was how they got shredded on the ground. The Patriots rushed for 170 yards on 39 carries.Letting defensive tackle DJ Reader leave for Detroit felt like a mistake at the time, and Sunday was just further proof of that.The Bengals ultimately should be fine. But when you lose to a team you’re expected to beat and convincingly at that, even in Week 1 when things are weird, it’s a red flag.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Take a bow, TJ Watt. <a href="https://twitter.com/steelers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Steelers</a> win! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PITvsATL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PITvsATL</a><a href="https://t.co/zZQKyr2fQX">pic.twitter.com/zZQKyr2fQX</a>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1832871680647335993?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2024</a><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote><h2>4. The Steelers will need their formula to win now more than any other year</h2>Verdict: Fact.It doesn’t seem to matter who is at quarterback for the Steelers. As long as they stick to their formula, they are one of the toughest teams to beat in any given week.They proved that again with an 18-10 win in Atlanta despite not scoring a touchdown.Justin Fields threw for 156 yards in relief of injured starter Russell Wilson.But as they usually do, the Steelers won their way: by dragging teams into low-scoring games, not turning the ball over and making splash plays in high-leverage situations.They kept the Falcons to just 226 yards of total offense and forced three turnovers, including a massive Donte Jackson interception with 2:34 to play. But more importantly, the Steelers did not turn the ball over once.Say what you will about their quarterback situation. The Steelers know exactly how they need to win maybe more than anyone. It’s probably not sustainable over a long season, but they will need the formula to win more this year because of how low the ceiling of their quarterback room is compared to the rest of the AFC North.The good news for them is their formula has them at 1-0 in sole possession of first place in the division.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">XAVIER WORTHY HAS ARRIVED. 📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kickoff2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kickoff2024</a> on NBC/Peacock 📱: Stream on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLPlus?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFLPlus</a><a href="https://t.co/0612BrVxlJ">pic.twitter.com/0612BrVxlJ</a>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1831860914246590589?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2024</a><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote><h2>5. Xavier Worthy is already making the Bills regret passing on him</h2>Verdict: Fact.Maybe I’m being too harsh on the Bills. But from the moment the Bills traded down with the Chiefs on draft night and allowed them to draft Xavier Worthy in the first round, it looked like a bad idea.The Bills needed a receiver and regardless of how you felt about Worthy as a prospect, they not only passed on him, but they allowed the team that has been their kryptonite in recent years to get him.One game into his career, Worthy might already be making the Bills second-guess their decision.He only had three touches against the Ravens, but he gained 68 yards and scored two TDs in the Chiefs’ 27-20 win.If I’m being honest, Worthy is the kind of player who I’m not sure would have succeeded in every system. But he landed in an outstanding place because of how Andy Reid has been able to utilize him so far. He could certainly have been very good in Buffalo as well. Not only will we never know, but this has the makings of a trade that will haunt the Bills. And they’re still being haunted by trading the pick that became Patrick Mahomes to the Chiefs all the way back in 2017.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">JAYDEN REED LEFT WIDE OPEN FOR THE 70-YARD TD. 📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GBvsPHI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GBvsPHI</a> on Peacock <a href="https://t.co/cAvTn5HLLd">pic.twitter.com/cAvTn5HLLd</a>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1832230393984250118?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2024</a><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote><h2>6. Jordan Love’s injury means the NFC North is lost for the Packers</h2>Verdict: Fiction.Not only did the Packers lose in Sao Paolo to the Eagles on Friday, but they also lost their starting quarterback to injury in the final seconds.<a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1832512946490015924?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1832512946490015924%7Ctwgr%5Eece3a9fe2653a6a8b76f42bcbef709b3a7ccd00e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Farticles%2F10134535-nfl-rumors-packers-jordan-love-expected-to-miss-3-6-weeks-with-knee-injury">NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported</a> that Jordan Love suffered an MCL sprain and <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1832512946490015924?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1832512946490015924%7Ctwgr%5Eece3a9fe2653a6a8b76f42bcbef709b3a7ccd00e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Farticles%2F10134535-nfl-rumors-packers-jordan-love-expected-to-miss-3-6-weeks-with-knee-injury">Tom Pelissero added</a> that Love is initially expected to miss 3-6 weeks. <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/source-jordan-loves-return-is-expected-between-week-4-and-week-6">Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio also reported</a> that Love is expected to return between Weeks 4 and 6.The bad news for the Packers is the only other quarterback on their roster right now is Malik Willis, who has no touchdowns and three interceptions in 67 career pass attempts. But the good news is the Packers are positioned to be just fine until he comes back.Other than a trip to take on the Rams in Week 5, the Packers schedule looks manageable. They host the Colts in Week 2, followed by games at Tennessee and home vs. the Vikings. It’s a relatively easy schedule where they won’t need Willis to play too well to win.More importantly, if Love comes back before a Week 7 visit from the Texans, the Packers will probably be okay. Their toughest part of the schedule starts with that game, including both matchups vs. the Lions and Bears. That’s when they need Love, and that’s why they should be fine if Love comes back in those 3-6 weeks.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">GOFF. WILLIAMS. 52 YARD TD! 📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LARvsDET?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LARvsDET</a> on NBC/Peacock 📱: Stream on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLPlus?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFLPlus</a><a href="https://t.co/T7wgLF9pcF">pic.twitter.com/T7wgLF9pcF</a>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1832963741312483600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2024</a><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote><h2>7. Jameson Williams may be Detroit’s X-factor for a Super Bowl run</h2>Verdict: Fact.We got a brief glimpse of the impact Jameson Williams can have in the NFC Championship Game. Sunday night’s performance might have been the full unveiling of what the speedster can be in Detroit.Williams had five catches for a game-high 121 yards and a touchdown as well as a 13-yard run in the Lions’ 26-20 OT win vs. the Rams.The Lions already have one of the best rosters in the NFL and multiple players who can take over a game, including on offense. They already have two proven studs in Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta.Williams showed he’s ready to take that next step and that he can be a difference maker.Most teams just don’t have that player who is a threat to make a big play every time they step on the field. Those players can flip big games.Williams is that player because of his game-breaking speed. He needs to prove he can stay healthy after playing just 18 of a possible 34 regular season games his first two seasons.But if he is healthy, Williams could be just what the Lions need to take that next step and get to the Super Bowl.</div></body>

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Does Deshaun Watson deserve the most blame for Browns blowout loss? Week 1 NFL fact or fiction

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Deshaun Watson and the Browns had a bad start to the season as they were blown out by the Cowboys on Sunday, 33-17. But there was more happening around the NFL in Week 1 than just the big game in Cleveland. Every week, we’ll go through...

Does Deshaun Watson deserve the most blame for Browns blowout loss? Week 1 NFL fact or fiction

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