The preseason is supposed to create optimism, but these three NFL teams walked away from their opening games with more questions than answers. Two teams looked alarmingly unprepared, while another team received a painful reminder that August victories can come at an enormous cost.
Cleveland Browns
The Browns entered Saturday hoping somebody would take control of their crowded quarterback competition. Instead, Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel each committed a turnover during a 34–10 loss to the Chicago Bears.
Watson produced the best numbers of the group, completing 11 of 15 passes for 126 yards. He also lost a fumble on fourth down, giving Chicago the field position it needed to begin erasing Cleveland’s early 10-point lead.
Sanders followed with 79 yards and an interception. Gabriel threw two more interceptions as the game deteriorated in the second half.
Cleveland does not need four quarterbacks capable of occasionally looking competent. It needs one capable of winning regular-season games. Saturday provided no clear answer, unless the answer is that the Browns remain dangerously close to entering another season without a trustworthy starter.
Preseason statistics can be dismissed. Three quarterbacks turning over the football in the same afternoon cannot be ignored quite as easily.