Browns’ X-Factors for 2024-2025
The Cleveland Browns have a loaded roster heading into this season and they have a few X-Factors that can make or break their hopes to be in Championship contention this year. They have made the playoffs in two of the last four seasons. In each of their two playoff appearances, they were a Wild Card team, winning one playoff game. The Browns are looking to take that next step and go to a place where no Browns team has been to, the Super Bowl.
One of the Browns’ X-Factors is quarterback Deshaun Watson. It’s the combination of Watson’s playing ability and his health. The last time Watson put up a Pro Bowl-caliber season and was healthy was in 2020. In 2020, Watson played in 16 games. Since then, he’s only played in 12 games in the last three seasons. In 2020, Watson put up career highs in completion percentage, at 70%, total passing yards at 4,823, and 33 touchdown passes. In context, Watson sat out the entire 2021 season and was suspended for 11 games in 2022. Last season, Watson missed 11 games due to an injury-related reason that ended his season early.
Another X-Factor for the Browns is head coach Kevin Stefanski. Stefanski has two Coach of the Year Awards under his belt. He has one of the more talented offenses in the league and the top defense in yards given up with 270 from last season to work with. He has not yet had a full season of Watson under center and can potentially be finally given the chance to have Watson available. Stefanski is also the primary Browns offensive playcaller.
The final major X-Factor for the Browns is linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. Owusu-Koramoah has a unique build. He plays linebacker with a build of a defensive back. The advantage to that is Owusu-Koramoah can fly around the field at the second level and use his speed when blitzing at offensive linemen. The downside to Owusu-Koramoah’s build is that he can have trouble shedding blocks against offensive linemen once they make contact with him. The trio of Watson, Stefanki, and Owusu-Koramoah are all talented pieces to the team that the Browns will rely on to make critical decisions and plays.
