Deshaun Watson Turns Boos Into Cheers with 21-18 win against Panthers
Deshaun Watson has turned boos into cheers in Cleveland, Ohio as he lead the Cleveland Browns to a 21-18 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. The game was played on Sept. 27, 2026, at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, where fans had booed him during the pre-season. Watson threw two touchdown passes to tight end Harold Fannin Jr., and the second one came with 1:48 left on the game clock. Since the start of the game, the Panthers were the favorite but by the end of the game with the Browns win, the tides had turned. Cleveland now has a 2-1 record, and it was the second straight comeback win for the Browns.
Watson is a 10 year NFL veteran, and this was the 10th fourth-quarter comeback and game-winning drive of his career. However, he had struggled for most of the game, and a lot of booing could be heard earlier in the afternoon. In the fourth quarter, the mood changed, and most fans cheered him when he came back into the game after a hard hit. Fans chanted “Let’s go Watson” before the game ended, which was a sharp change from the mood in late August. In addition, Watson said afterward he did not hear the boos and only wanted to give the home fans something to cheer about.
How Watson’s Late Drive Beat Carolina
The Panthers had taken an 18-13 lead with 4:25 left when Bryce Young threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to receiver John Metchie III. The Browns had to answer quickly, and Watson led them on an eight-play drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Fannin Jr. The scoring throw covered 14 yards and came with 1:48 remaining, which gave Cleveland a 21-18 lead that the Browns would not lose. The Panthers had one more chance, but Young threw a lofted pass late that Browns safety Ronnie Hickman caught to end the game. Fannin also scored the first Browns touchdown late in the first half, so he finished with two scores and seven catches in all.
Browns vs Panthers stats : box score from Week 3: 21-18 final at at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio. See the score by quarter, box score and key numbers below:
Watson had a slow day for three quarters, as he made 10 of 21 passes for only 67 yards. However, he was better in the last quarter, when he made 6 of 9 passes and threw for 77 yards and a score. He finished the game 16 of 30 for 144 yards and two touchdowns, and he also ran 11 times for 45 yards total. Kicker Andre Szmyt also helped Cleveland with two field goals, and the first was a 48-yard kick that opened the scoring for Cleveland. Carolina got four field goals from Ryan Fitzgerald before it reached the end zone, and that slow scoring helped keep Cleveland within reach.
Why Cleveland Fans Cheered Watson After Boos
The game was Watson’s first regular-season home game since the 2024 game in which he tore his Achilles (the Achilles is a strong tendon at the back of the ankle). Watson worked for 22 months to return, and he said the moment made him teary-eyed because of the effort he had put in. He called it “a warm moment,” and it was possibly the sweetest comeback win of his long 10-year NFL career. Watson and his teammates had feared that the boos would return after the negative reception in the preseason game against Buffalo on Aug. 22.
Fans had several reasons for their anger, including his large contract, his 2022 NFL suspension and his play on the field over four seasons. The quarterback had called the home crowd “disrespectful” for booing him after the Achilles injury and again in the pre-season. However, the boos mostly faded in the second half, and by the end of the game, Watson heard almost nothing but approval from the Browns home crowd. With the win, the Browns moved to 2-1 on the season, their second straight victory, according to the team’s official recap posted online.
Web resources on Browns vs Panthers score
1. Fox News : Deshaun Watson goes from Cleveland villain to hero in Browns upset win, as home crowd turns jeers to cheers.
2. Cleveland Browns : Browns 21, Panthers 18 | Final Score, Stats & Game Recap.
3. ESPN : Deshaun Watson sparks a late Browns rally, sealing a 21-18 win over the Panthers.
4. Cleveland : ‘THAT’S the Deshaun Watson we loved and remembered’: What Stephen A. Smith said after Browns beat Panthers.