Shaun Watson Is Back, the Browns Are 5-2, the Jets Are Still the Jets, and Brock Purdy Finally Remembered He's Human: NFL Sunday Was Absolute Chaos

I don't know what the hell is happening in Cleveland right now, but I'm enjoying every second of it. My Cleveland Browns are 5-2, sitting atop the AFC North, and Deshaun Watson — or as I like to call him, Shaun Watson — just threw for over 300 yards for the first time in a Browns uniform. Somebody check the calendar because I'm starting to wonder if we're actually witnessing the beginning of something special in Cleveland. Now, was today's 27-24 victory over the Tennessee Titans pretty? Absolutely not. Tennessee came into this game with one win, and Cleveland had to fight until the final play to escape Nashville. But the NFL doesn't hand out bonus points for style. A win is a win, and good teams have to find ways to win games when they aren't playing their best football.

Watson finished 25-of-36 for 308 yards, an interception and a rushing touchdown. That's the kind of production Browns fans have been waiting years to see. He wasn't perfect, and the early mistakes could have buried Cleveland against a better opponent, but what impressed me was how he responded when the game was on the line. Quinshon Judkins continued to establish himself as a legitimate weapon in this offense, rushing for 96 yards and two touchdowns, while KC Concepcion had himself a day with eight receptions for 129 yards.

The Browns finally look like they're developing an offense that doesn't need the defense to win every single game for them.

And of course, because this is Cleveland, nothing could ever be easy. Tony Pollard absolutely tortured the Browns defense, rushing for 129 yards and three touchdowns. Tennessee tied the game at 24 with just 58 seconds remaining, and I think every Browns fan watching immediately started preparing for another heartbreaking finish. Instead, Watson connected with Harold Fannin Jr. for a massive 36-yard gain, putting Cleveland in position for Andre Szmyt to redeem himself after an earlier missed field goal. Szmyt drilled the 32-yard winner as time expired, and the Browns walked out of Tennessee with their fifth victory of the season.

Here's where I'm at with this team. I'm not ready to start talking about the Super Bowl. I'm not completely drinking the Kool-Aid. But 5-2 is 5-2, and for the first time in a while, it feels like the Browns might actually have an identity beyond hoping Myles Garrett destroys the opposing quarterback. Watson looks more comfortable, the young offensive weapons are producing, and this team is finding ways to win close games. Three walk-off field goal victories in one season might eventually catch up with you, but right now I'll gladly take every single one. The Browns are relevant in late October, they're winning football games, and Shaun Watson might actually be back. What a time to be alive.

New York Giants 27, Houston Texans 21 (OT) — JOHN HARBAUGH MUST HAVE CALLED HIS BROTHER

I'm convinced John Harbaugh picked up the phone this week, called his brother Jim and asked him to explain how the hell J.J. McCarthy keeps finding ways to win football games. Because whatever the secret formula is, apparently it works in New York too. The Giants entered Houston as massive underdogs, with oddsmakers giving them about as much respect as you'd expect for a team starting a new quarterback against a supposedly superior opponent. And somehow, they walked out with a 27-21 overtime victory and improved to 4-2-1. I don't know if the Giants are actually good, but they're becoming one of the most entertaining stories in football.

McCarthy, making his first start for the Giants after Harbaugh benched Jameis Winston, finished 20-of-28 for 252 yards. He didn't throw a touchdown, but he didn't need to. He managed the offense, made some important throws and let the running game do the damage. Cam Skattebo, who barely saw the football a week ago, came back with a vengeance, rushing for 124 yards and a touchdown. Malik Nabers added seven receptions for 111 yards, and suddenly the Giants offense looked like it had a legitimate plan instead of simply hoping somebody made a miracle play.

The funniest part of this game was how Houston managed to make things interesting despite being outplayed for most of the afternoon. The Texans tied the game with 52 seconds remaining on a C.J. Stroud touchdown pass to Xavier Hutchinson, and it felt like the Giants were about to blow another game they should have won. But New York's defense forced a three-and-out to open overtime, Skattebo ripped off a 42-yard run, and former Texan Devin Singletary finished the job with a 30-yard walk-off touchdown against his old team. You genuinely couldn't script it much better.

And what does this say about Houston? A team that was supposed to be a serious AFC contender is now sitting at 2-5, and C.J. Stroud managed only 153 passing yards. The Texans were outgained 420-237, and the Giants controlled the game far more than the final score suggests. Meanwhile, John Harbaugh has this Giants team believing it can win games against anybody. I'm not ready to call McCarthy the next great quarterback, but the kid has a habit of finding himself on the winning side of football games. Maybe that's a skill in itself.

Whatever Harbaugh is doing, it's working.

Atlanta Falcons 29, San Francisco 49ers 20 — GLOCK PURDY FINALLY RAN OUT OF AMMO

Well, it finally happened. Brock Purdy lost a football game. After six consecutive victories and a start to the season that had people legitimately throwing his name into the MVP conversation, Glock Purdy finally ran into somebody who wasn't interested in cooperating. That somebody was Michael Penix Jr., or as I'm apparently going to call him for the rest of the season, Michael Penis Jr. Atlanta entered the afternoon at 2-4, San Francisco was undefeated, and everything about this matchup suggested the 49ers would handle business. Instead, the Falcons delivered one of the biggest upsets of the season with a 29-20 victory.

The crazy part is that San Francisco actually looked like it was going to cruise early. The 49ers jumped out to a 14-3 lead, and I figured we were heading toward another afternoon of Purdy looking like the second coming of Joe Montana. Then Atlanta completely flipped the game. The Falcons scored 23 unanswered points, forced four turnovers and made one of the league's hottest offenses look incredibly ordinary. Penix finished with 213 passing yards and three touchdowns, including a scoring connection with Drake London, while Atlanta's defense did the kind of damage that completely changes a football game.

Purdy threw for 288 yards and a touchdown, so it's not like he suddenly forgot how to play quarterback. But the turnovers and inability to respond once Atlanta seized momentum were a reminder that even the best teams can have a terrible afternoon. San Francisco came into the game looking almost unbeatable, and now the rest of the NFC has a little evidence that the 49ers aren't invincible. I'm not going to bury them over one loss. They're still 6-1 and still one of the best teams in football. But the MVP coronation can wait another week.

As for Atlanta, where the hell has this team been? If Penix can consistently play like he did today, and the defense can force mistakes against quality opponents, the Falcons have enough talent to be a problem in the NFC South. The issue is that we've seen Atlanta look impressive one week and completely lifeless the next. Maybe this is the victory that finally gets them going. Either way, Michael Penis Jr. just handed Glock Purdy his first loss of the season, and I think that deserves some recognition.

Pittsburgh Steelers 16, New Orleans Saints 10 — THE NFL WENT TO FRANCE AND FORGOT TO BRING OFFENSE

The NFL finally brought regular-season football to France, and apparently the Steelers and Saints decided the best way to introduce the sport to a new audience was by playing one of the ugliest games imaginable. Pittsburgh escaped Paris with a 16-10 victory, and I genuinely hope the French fans who attended weren't expecting anything resembling the offensive fireworks they see in American football highlights. Because this game was about as entertaining as watching paint dry.

Aaron Rodgers did manage to make some history, throwing his 540th career touchdown pass to move into sole possession of third place on the NFL's all-time list. That's an incredible accomplishment, and Rodgers deserves credit for continuing to produce at this stage of his career. But outside of that milestone, there wasn't much to get excited about. Pittsburgh leaned on its defense, controlled enough of the game to avoid disaster and did what the Steelers have seemingly been doing for the last twenty years: win football games that nobody particularly enjoys watching.

And you know what? Steelers fans probably don't care. Pittsburgh improved to 5-2, and style points don't mean anything in the standings. But as a Browns fan, watching the Steelers win another low-scoring game without looking especially impressive is getting old. They're still right there in the AFC North, and until somebody consistently beats them, they're going to remain a problem. The Saints, meanwhile, fall to 2-5 and continue to look like a team without much offensive direction. At least the NFL got a trip to Paris out of it.

Minnesota Vikings 16, Indianapolis Colts 10 — THE COLTS STINK, BUT THAT VIKINGS DEFENSE IS LEGITIMATE

I don't know how many more weeks we need to watch Indianapolis before everybody agrees that this Colts team simply isn't very good. Minnesota beat Indianapolis 16-10 in a game that wasn't particularly exciting offensively, but it was another reminder that the Vikings have one of the most dangerous defenses in football. Minnesota improved to 6-0, and while the offense hasn't exactly been lighting up scoreboards every week, the defense is making sure it doesn't have to.

The Colts actually led 10-6 at halftime, which makes this loss even more embarrassing. Indianapolis failed to score a single point in the second half, and Daniel Jones finished with just 108 passing yards. Jonathan Taylor rushed for 95 yards and a touchdown, but Minnesota made the necessary adjustments and completely shut down the Colts when the game was there to be won. That's what elite defenses do. They don't necessarily dominate every possession from the opening kickoff, but they find ways to take control when it matters.

Kyler Murray threw for 150 yards and a touchdown for Minnesota, and the Vikings managed just enough offense to secure another victory. Justin Jefferson wasn't putting up video game numbers, and the running game wasn't completely overwhelming Indianapolis, but none of that mattered because the defense refused to let the Colts back into the game. Six wins, zero losses, and a defense capable of keeping Minnesota competitive against anybody. I'm starting to believe this team is a legitimate Super Bowl contender, even if its offense still has some questions to answer.

Miami Dolphins 28, New York Jets 25 — THE JETS ARE STILL THE JETS

Some things in life are guaranteed. Death, taxes and the New York Jets finding new ways to embarrass themselves. Miami entered Sunday's game without a single victory, and if there was ever an opportunity for the Jets to take care of business against a struggling opponent, this was it. Instead, the Dolphins walked into MetLife Stadium, scored 28 points and handed the Jets another loss. Miami finally got its first win of the season, and naturally it came against the Jets.

Malik Willis threw for 208 yards and two touchdowns, while Ollie Gordon II rushed for 103 yards and a score. The Dolphins actually looked like a functional football team for stretches, which is something nobody has been able to say very often this season. Miami jumped out to a 21-7 halftime lead and forced New York to spend the rest of the afternoon chasing the game. To the Jets' credit, Geno Smith threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns, and they did manage to make things interesting late. But as usual, it wasn't enough.

Here's what makes the Jets so frustrating to watch. They have moments when you can convince yourself they're building something. A big offensive play, a defensive stop, a comeback that suddenly makes the game competitive. Then they find a way to lose, and everybody spends another week trying to explain what went wrong. They're now 2-5, and losing at home to a previously winless division rival isn't exactly the kind of performance that inspires confidence. The Jets are still the Jets, and I don't know why anybody expected anything different.

Cincinnati Bengals 35, Baltimore Ravens 13 — JOE BURROW AND JA'MARR CHASE ARE STILL HIM

For thirty minutes, it looked like Baltimore was going to cruise to a comfortable victory over Cincinnati. The Ravens led 13-0 at halftime, the Bengals offense couldn't get anything going, and Joe Burrow looked completely out of rhythm. Then the second half started, and apparently somebody reminded Burrow that he's one of the best quarterbacks in football. Cincinnati scored 35 unanswered points and absolutely embarrassed Baltimore on its home field.

Burrow finished 22-of-30 for 292 yards and four touchdowns, all coming in the second half. That's ridiculous. The Bengals went from looking completely lifeless to scoring touchdowns on five consecutive possessions. Mike Gesicki got things started, Tee Higgins followed with a touchdown of his own, Samaje Perine punched one in from the goal line, and Ja'Marr Chase eventually joined the party before Drew Sample finished off the scoring. Higgins had himself an afternoon with six catches for 148 yards, while Chase added five receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown.

And let's not ignore what this means for Baltimore. The Ravens were playing without Lamar Jackson, and while Tyler Huntley had some productive moments, this team completely collapsed after halftime. Derrick Henry was held to 45 rushing yards, and Baltimore's offense couldn't respond once Cincinnati started putting points on the board. That's two consecutive divisional losses for the Ravens, and suddenly the AFC North is becoming a much more interesting race than anybody expected.

As a Browns fan, I obviously have mixed feelings watching Burrow and Chase look this good. Cincinnati is dangerous when those two are clicking, and I don't particularly enjoy seeing another AFC North team find its rhythm. But I also appreciate great football, and what Burrow did in the second half was ridiculous. The Bengals improved to 4-2, and anybody who was ready to write them off might want to reconsider. Joe Burrow is still him, Ja'Marr Chase is still him, and the rest of the AFC North has officially been warned.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 43, Carolina Panthers 13 — WHERE THE HELL DID THAT COME FROM?

I don't think anybody had Tampa Bay hanging 43 points on Carolina on their Sunday bingo card. The Buccaneers entered the afternoon at 1-5, and the Panthers had been playing respectable football. Then the game started, and Tampa apparently decided to take out six weeks of frustration on Carolina in one afternoon. The Buccaneers dominated from start to finish, winning 43-13 in one of the most surprising blowouts of the day.

Bucky Irving scored twice on the ground, Calijah Kancey returned a fumble 32 yards for a touchdown, and Tampa's offense and defense spent the afternoon taking turns embarrassing the Panthers. Baker Mayfield didn't even need to throw for 100 yards. The Buccaneers rushed for 258 yards, controlled the line of scrimmage and forced Carolina into mistakes that completely buried any chance of a comeback. When your quarterback throws for 64 yards and you still win by 30, that's a pretty good indication of how badly you dominated the other team.

Carolina looked completely unprepared. Bryce Young connected with Darren Waller for a 50-yard touchdown, but that was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise miserable afternoon. The Panthers turned the ball over four times, struggled to protect their quarterback and couldn't stop Tampa's rushing attack. I'm not suddenly declaring the Buccaneers contenders because they beat Carolina, but that was a statement performance from a team desperately needing one. As for the Panthers, getting embarrassed by a one-win division rival is the kind of loss that should lead to some uncomfortable conversations during the week.

Denver Broncos 30, Arizona Cardinals 16 — BO NIX IS STARTING TO FIGURE IT OUT

Denver is quietly putting together a pretty impressive season. The Broncos improved to 5-2 with a 30-16 victory over Arizona, and Bo Nix continues to look like a quarterback who's becoming more comfortable taking control of an NFL offense. Nix finished with 222 passing yards and a touchdown, but his biggest contribution came with his legs. He rushed for 73 yards, including a ridiculous 62-yard touchdown run that completely changed the complexion of the game.

The Broncos also got a 52-yard touchdown reception from R.J. Harvey and a short rushing touchdown from J.K. Dobbins. Denver wasn't perfect, committing far too many penalties and occasionally allowing Arizona to hang around longer than it should have, but the overall result was never really in doubt once the Broncos established control. The Cardinals, meanwhile, continue to struggle at home, extending their home losing streak to ten games. Jacoby Brissett threw for 272 yards, and Trey McBride had ten catches for 111 yards and a touchdown, but Arizona couldn't consistently finish drives.

What interests me about Denver is that this team doesn't necessarily need Nix to throw for 350 yards every week. They have a defense capable of keeping games manageable, a running game that can create explosive plays and a quarterback who can hurt opponents with his arm or legs. I'm not ready to put them in the same conversation as the absolute elite teams in the AFC, but 5-2 is nothing to dismiss. Denver is becoming the kind of team nobody wants to face late in the season.

Los Angeles Rams 35, Las Vegas Raiders 21 — THE RAMS FINALLY LOOKED LIKE THE TEAM WE EXPECTED

The Rams entered Sunday desperately needing a victory, and Las Vegas turned out to be exactly the opponent they needed. Los Angeles beat the Raiders 35-21, finally delivering the kind of offensive performance that had been missing far too often this season. The Rams have enough talent to be much better than their record suggests, but talent doesn't mean much when you're constantly finding ways to lose close games.

This time, Los Angeles took care of business. The offense put up 35 points, the defense did enough to prevent Las Vegas from mounting a serious comeback, and the Rams walked away with a much-needed victory. I'm not going to pretend beating the Raiders suddenly fixes every problem this team has experienced, but sometimes one convincing performance is enough to get things moving in the right direction.

The bigger question is whether the Rams can build on it. Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay have been through enough together that I still hesitate to completely dismiss this team, especially in an NFC where the playoff picture can change dramatically over a few weeks. But they're running out of time to figure things out. As for Las Vegas, another disappointing afternoon raises the same questions about whether this organization has a legitimate direction. The Raiders have talent, but too often the results look like a team that's still trying to figure out what it wants to be.

Detroit Lions 20, Green Bay Packers 17 — THE NFC NORTH IS GOING TO BE A WAR

If anybody needed another reminder that the NFC North is one of the most competitive divisions in football, Detroit and Green Bay delivered it Sunday afternoon. The Lions escaped with a 20-17 victory in a physical divisional matchup that felt more like a December playoff game than something being played in late October. Neither team was able to completely take control, and every possession felt important.

Detroit needed this victory. The Lions have been inconsistent this season, and losing another divisional game would have put them in an uncomfortable position heading into November. Instead, they found a way to beat a quality Packers team and remind everybody that they're still capable of competing with the best teams in the NFC. Green Bay, meanwhile, will be frustrated because this was absolutely a winnable game. Losing by three points to a division rival is the kind of result that can come back to haunt you when playoff seeding is decided.

What makes the NFC North so interesting is that there isn't much separating these teams on any given Sunday. Minnesota is undefeated, Green Bay remains dangerous, Detroit has enough offensive talent to beat anybody, and Chicago has shown it can compete as well. Every divisional matchup is going to matter. Detroit got the better of Green Bay today, but I wouldn't be surprised if these two teams are fighting for playoff positioning right down to the final week of the season.

Final Thoughts — The Browns Are Winning, the AFC North Is Wide Open, and Nobody Is Safe

After another full Sunday of football, I think the biggest takeaway is that the NFL remains completely unpredictable. San Francisco finally lost. Minnesota stayed undefeated. Cincinnati turned a thirteen-point halftime deficit into a twenty-two-point victory. The Giants won another game nobody expected them to win, and the Jets managed to give Miami its first victory of the season.

And somehow, my Cleveland Browns are sitting at 5-2.

I keep coming back to that because I genuinely didn't know what to expect from this team heading into the season. Watson had so much to prove, the offense had questions everywhere, and the AFC North looked like it was going to be another brutal division to navigate.

Seven games in, Cleveland is winning.

Are there problems? Absolutely. The defense gave up far too much to Tennessee. The offense still makes mistakes that better teams will punish. And relying on last-second field goals isn't exactly a sustainable formula for winning a championship.

But the Browns are finding ways to win games, and that's something worth appreciating.

Pittsburgh is still hanging around. Cincinnati looks dangerous. Baltimore has questions to answer without Lamar Jackson. And Cleveland suddenly has an opportunity to establish itself as a legitimate contender in the division.

We're not even halfway through the season, so I'm not getting ahead of myself.

But I'm starting to believe.

As for the rest of the league, Minnesota's defense looks terrifying, San Francisco finally showed some vulnerability, and the NFC playoff race is shaping up to be an absolute mess.

The Chiefs and Seahawks still have Sunday Night Football ahead of us, and we'll get another chapter of this ridiculous season when Dallas and Philadelphia meet Monday night.

But for now, I'm enjoying one simple fact.

The Cleveland Browns are 5-2, Shaun Watson just threw for 308 yards, and football in late October is actually fun again.

I don't know how long this lasts.

But I'm sure as hell going to enjoy it while it does.