Deshaun Watson said the Cleveland Browns’ comeback win over the Houston Texans carried personal meaning. Cleveland erased a 17-point deficit to win 27–24 on Sunday, improving its record to 6–4.
“Most definitely. It was a big win for us overall, but personally, it was extra special,” Watson said. “There’s history behind it. Didn’t leave on a good note.” He added that he still feels affection for Houston, saying, “It’s still love” for the city, but called the result a good win.
Browns coach Todd Monken believed the matchup meant a great deal to Watson and his teammates. “I don’t care what he says, this meant a lot,” Monken said. “It meant a lot to a lot of guys.”
## Watson’s Departure from Houston
The Texans selected Watson 12th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. He made three Pro Bowls with Houston and led the league with 4,823 passing yards in 2020.
Watson requested a trade in January 2021 amid frustration with the organization’s general manager hiring process. The first misconduct lawsuit against him was filed in March of that year, and he did not play during the 2021 season.
More than two dozen women accused Watson of sexual misconduct during massage sessions. He denied wrongdoing, and two Texas grand juries declined to bring criminal charges. The NFL suspended him for 11 games and fined him $5 million for violating its personal conduct policy.
Houston traded Watson to Cleveland in March 2022 in a deal that included three first-round picks. The Browns signed him to a five-year, fully guaranteed contract worth $230 million.
## Watson Leads Cleveland’s Comeback
Before Sunday’s game, Watson had described the reunion as an opportunity to help the Browns win, saying his focus was on getting back on track in front of the team’s home fans. He also said that, after several years, both sides had moved on.
Watson returned to the starting lineup after missing Cleveland’s loss to New Orleans. He completed 25 of 40 passes for 312 yards and an interception, and added 49 rushing yards and a touchdown.
After a slow start by the offense, Watson led his sixth fourth-quarter winning drive of the season. His 30-yard completion to Harold Fannin Jr. moved Cleveland to Houston’s 5-yard line. Quinshon Judkins scored on the next play with 53 seconds left.
“The game is never over,” Watson said after the game. “As long as we have time on the clock and we have opportunity, we’re going to believe we can finish it off.”
The Browns head into their bye week having ended a two-game losing streak and remaining in the playoff mix.
