The Cleveland Browns and Deshaun Watson ran out of chances to make the NFL Playoffs.
The Browns will miss the postseason again after a 17-10 loss to the visiting New Orleans Saints. Beleaguered Cleveland is 6-9 with two weeks to go and that just won’t cut it in the ultra-competitive AFC.
ESPN tweeted, “The Browns have officially been eliminated from playoff contention,” on Saturday afternoon.
The Browns have officially been eliminated from playoff contention. pic.twitter.com/dZq9YiNtBf
— ESPN (@espn) December 24, 2022
With the loss, Watson will miss the postseason in his first year as the quarterback in Cleveland. The disgraced Browns quarterback had only played three games up until Sunday after the league suspended him for much of the season due to 24 accusations of gross sexual misconduct. But his efforts were not enough to get the Browns to refocus and reach the postseason.
This means that Cleveland will miss the NFL Playoffs for the nineteenth time in the last 20 seasons.
The team and its quarterback were promptly roasted on Twitter.
Cleveland.com reporter put it all into perspective. “The Browns have scored 3 offensive TDs in four games with Deshaun Watson. The Browns have secured their second consecutive losing season after making the playoffs in 2020.”
The Browns have scored 3 offensive TDs in four games with Deshaun Watson.
The Browns have secured their second consecutive losing season after making the playoffs in 2020.
— Hayden Grove (@H_Grove) December 24, 2022
Michael Waterloo, a writer for The Athletic’s fantasy sports department, tweeted, “It WARMS my heart seeing how bad Deshaun Watson plays each week.”
It WARMS my heart seeing how bad Deshaun Watson plays each week 💜
— Michael Waterloo (@MichaelWaterloo) December 24, 2022
Sports business reporter Bill Shea then tweeted about the news that they missed the playoffs. Shea tweeted, “A Christmas tradition unlike any other!”
A Christmas tradition unlike any other! https://t.co/yJZuCIcju1
— Bill Shea (@Bill_Shea19) December 24, 2022
NFL reporter Gregg Rosenthal pointed out a positive note for the Saints, depending on how you look at it. “9 months after the Saints were outbid for Deshaun Watson, they end the Browns’ season by sacking Watson in front of roughly 760 fans.” Ouch.
9 months after the Saints were outbid for Deshaun Watson, they end the Browns' season by sacking Watson in front of roughly 760 fans
— Gregg Rosenthal (@greggrosenthal) December 24, 2022
Lastly, The Ringer’s Rodger Sherman educated on how badly Watson has played.
The Browns adding Deshaun Watson would've been indefensible even if he was the best QB in the NFL. Instead, out of 41 QBs with 100 attempts, he's:
—40th in yards per attempt (between Colt McCoy & Joe Flacco)
—41st in passer rating (dead last)
—39th in TD/attempt
—39th in TD/INT— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) December 24, 2022
[ESPN]