Steelers see confidence growing with Deshaun Watson

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – In the tumultuous journey that defines Deshaun Watson with the Cleveland Browns, there have been only two times he’s quarterbacked the Browns against the Steelers, both were in the same calendar year. Now, healthy and available, Watson faces the Steelers again. What do they expect Thursday night?

Watson had two games in the rivalry, both in 2023

• 19-29, 230 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT, sacked 7 times in 28-14 loss in Pittsburgh on January 8—one of the picks in the third quarter set up a Najee Harris touchdown, the other led to a field goal
• 22-40, 235 yards, TD, INT, sacked 6 times in 26-22 loss in Pittsburgh, Alex Highsmith had a Pick 6, TJ Watt scored on a strip sack forced by Highsmith
• SUMMARIZING—2 games, 4 turnovers, 13 sacks, 2 losses

Watson was an unpopular choice returning as the Cleveland starting quarterback at the beginning of the season. Browns were blown out in Jacksonville, but since then a pair of wins—surprisingly at Tampa Bay 23-19 and home to Carolina 21-18 on a Watson 18-yard touchdown pass with 1:48 to play in the game. The numbers aren’t spectacular, but no turnovers and sacked only four times in the last two games.

• 24-30, 238 yards, 2 TD vs. Tampa
• 16-30, 144 yards, 2 TD vs Carolina

“You see the pop in the arm,” said Steelers defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. “Even that first game against Jacksonville, he threw that ball, what, 67 yards in the air. I know it was at the end of the game, but it was a good throw.”

“You see him throwing, completing some of those balls in tight windows. You see and you can feel his confidence — through the screen, you can feel his confidence coming, especially with the quarterback run game and the scrambling ability.

“Watching him now it seems like he’s got his arm back, it seems like the ball is going 80 yards through the air,” said Steelers corner Jamel Dean. “He’s started to look like his old self when he was with the Texans. It looks like he’s got his confidence back, he’s more mobile. He’s making great decisions with the ball. He’ll be a tough challenge for us.”

Scrambling is still in play for the 31-year-old, 67 yards rushing in the last couple of games.

“He’s finally back,” said Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen. “I know he’s probably feeling the itch to go out there and just perform at a high level. They are rolling. Deshaun is a great quarterback, that’s why he got paid all that money.”

Watson did get paid all of that money, but since coming over in the trade in 2021 he has only played in 22 games (due to suspension and injury), winning half of them.

“He just looks more comfortable,” said Steelers Cam Heyward. “A couple of years ago he was dealing with an Achilles. Definitely feels a lot more confident in what he is doing.”

Heyward said the key is getting bodies after him, as he put it ‘really throwing a lot of lawn darts at him’. If they are able to do that, then they ‘can light our hair on fire’.

“Deshaun has played some great football in his career,” said Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy. “I just remember when he came out. I mean, he's a dynamic player, so it's good to see him healthy. He's been through a lot. He's played some really good ball.”

A three-time Pro Bowler, Watson led the NFL in passing yards (4,823) and yards per reception (12.6) in 2020 with 33 touchdowns to 7 interceptions. He’s never come close to anything like that with Cleveland, but is he finding that Houston form?

“He's not worried about anything, it doesn't seem like, (and) you see some of it building,” Graham said.

“It should be fun on Thursday.”