Watson quiets the off-field noise with a steady performance for the Browns in a win over the Jaguars

CLEVELAND (AP) — Between the lines for three-plus hours, Deshaun Watson was able to put aside all the distractions and problems.

That doesn't mean they've gone away.

Cleveland's quarterback bounced back from a rough return in the season opener and delivered some big plays on Sunday as the Browns withstood an ugly, penalty-filled performance and held off the Jacksonville Jaguars 18-13.

For Watson, it was both a confidence booster and temporary diversion to his ongoing legal troubles after another woman filed a civil lawsuit against him alleging sexual assault and battery for an incident in 2020.

Watson is being investigated again by the NFL, which will determine if he violated its personal conduct policy a second time. The woman's attorney said last week his client has indicated a willingness to speak to the league.

If Watson is suspended, it's possible the Browns can void the final two years of the record-breaking $230 million contract they signed him to in 2022.

That's all speculation at this point. The fact is Watson played with poise in helping the Browns (1-1) recover from a horrendous Week 1 loss to Dallas and change the narrative of his and Cleveland's season — for now.

“He understands that he’ll do whatever it takes to win,” coach Kevin Stefanski said.

Watson's numbers weren't great: 22 of 34 for 186 yards and a 78.8 rating. But he started strong, going 7 of 8 on Cleveland's opening 16-play, 89-yard drive that chewed up 9:14 and he capped with a 1-yard TD run.

Unlike a week ago in his first game since suffering a season-ending shoulder injury last November, Watson was decisive. He got rid of the ball quickly and appeared to recognize coverages better.

And, he didn't turn the ball over.

“I thought offensively, and Deshaun in particular, we played clean,” Stefanski said Monday. “We played on time. He spread the ball out, was very good in his reads throughout the day. Kind of took what was there if (option) No. 1 wasn’t there. Moved on to No. 2 and played really clean.”

Watson also made a couple of plays that can't be diagrammed on a whiteboard.

With the pocket collapsing, Watson's instincts took over and his elusiveness allowed him to avoid would-be sackers, buy time and complete passes on the move.

There was also a major blunder as Watson inexplicably threw a pass on third down in the final two minutes with the Browns on the verge of victory. Watson was told to take the sack if the play broke down; he didn't.

The Browns survived, so all is forgiven.

“Deshaun got a game ball,” Stefanski said. “He played well. He helped us win. Obviously that play wasn’t exactly how we wanted it to go, but he’s a battler and I think that is very evident.”

The win quieted the noise around Watson.

There's no telling if it will last.

Cleveland's defense passed its first road test, holding the Jaguars to a touchdown and two field goals.

It was a positive sign and temporary turnaround for the unit, which was strong at home and soft away from it in 2023. The performance came after five defensive players went on injured reserve last week.

The Browns created pressure up front and the secondary did its job blanketing receivers. It helped that Jaguars tight end Evan Engram, who had 11 catches and two TDs last year against Cleveland, didn't play after hurting his hamstring in warmups.

Penalties are piling up. The Browns were called for 13, giving them 24 in two games and triggering more criticism that Cleveland's starters should have played in the preseason.

While trying to put the Jaguars away, the Browns were whistled for three penalties in four plays, pushing them back and out of field-goal range.

“We need to be better in that area,” Stefanski said. “It’s hard to win. We don’t need to make it harder.”

In his second game with Cleveland, wide receiver Jerry Jeudy finished with five catches for 73 yards.

Jeudy, who came over in a trade from Denver in March, made two tough grabs along the sideline to keep drives moving.

“Jerry’s doing a nice job,” Stefanski said. “We’re going to continue to learn more about him and how to line him up, where to line him up, those types of things.”

For the second week in a row, Amari Cooper was a nonfactor. Cleveland's No. 1 wide receiver had just three catches for 11 yards and dropped another long pass from Watson.

That's uncharacteristic for the sure-handed veteran.

“Small sample size,” Stefanski said. “I’ve seen it click with those two guys many times, so we’ll just keep working.”

WR David Bell will undergo season-ending surgery after dislocating his right hip. ... RB Pierre Strong Jr. is considered week to week with a hamstring injury. ... DE Ogbo Okoronkwo cleared concussion protocol after being checked for a head injury. ... Stefanski didn't have specific updates on Myles Garrett (foot) or CB Denzel Ward (shoulder), who were both limited. ... Stefanski hasn't ruled out TE David Njoku (sprained ankle) “yet” for this week's game.

14% — Cleveland's alarming third-down conversion rate (4 for 29).

Maybe a chance for the offense to find another gear against the New York Giants.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) looks for an open receiver during the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski looks at a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) leaps over Cleveland Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) on a run during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson answers a question from a reporter during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) throws a pass against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) warms up before an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

BALTIMORE (AP) — Mike Yastrzemski homered on the game's first pitch, Michael Conforto also hit a solo shot and the San Francisco Giants beat the sinking Baltimore Orioles 5-3 Wednesday night.

Baltimore has lost eight of 10 to fall 4 1/2 games behind the first-place Yankees in the AL East, pending New York's late matchup with Seattle. Before their current skid, the Orioles held a half-game lead.

For the second time in two nights, Yastrzemski put the Orioles in an immediate hole with a leadoff homer. On Tuesday, he did it on the second pitch. In this one, he hit Dean Kremer's initial offering into the right-field seats.

“That was pretty cool,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said. “He came in the dugout and said he had the same approach as he did last night, so I guess you stick with it, right? You don't see that often, two leadoff homers like that.”

Baltimore took a 2-1 lead in the third inning, but the Giants answered with a three-run fourth highlighted by a sequence that exemplified the Orioles' shortcomings of late. With the bases loaded and no outs, Grant McCoy hit a tapper in front of the plate. Kremer (7-10) grabbed the ball and flipped it to catcher James McCann in plenty of time for the force play — but McCann's foot was off the plate.

“That hurt,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “The catcher is wearing spikes and he's not really feeling the plate. He came out a half-inch too far.”

Casey Schmitt followed with a two-run single to put San Francisco ahead for good.

“In the big inning I didn't do a good job limiting damage,” Kremer said. “Balls got put in play and a little out of the reach of fielders. It's on me.”

Conforto hit his 17th homer leading off the sixth for a 5-2 lead. That was too much to overcome for the Orioles, who haven't scored more than five runs since Sept. 3.

Down by two in the seventh, Baltimore loaded the bases with two outs for Colton Cowser, who was retired on a flyball.

Baltimore stranded eight and went 2 for 10 with runners in scoring position.

Giants rookie Hayden Birdsong (4-5) gave up three runs and four hits over 5 2/3 innings to earn his first win in eight starts since July 27.

Ryan Walker, the fourth San Francisco reliever, worked a perfect ninth for his eighth save.

After coming to town with a four-game losing streak, the Giants are primed to sweep a team poised to reach the playoffs.

“They're fighting for a lot, and they're a real good team, too,” Melvin said. “To win the first two here, it's good.”

KIMBREL CUT

The Orioles bid farewell to struggling reliever Craig Kimbrel, designating him for assignment less than 24 hours after he gave up six runs in the ninth inning of a 10-0 loss to the Giants. The nine-time All-Star lost his job as closer in late July and had a 5.33 ERA with six blown saves.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Giants: 3B Matt Chapman was placed on the paternity list, and Schmitt was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento.

Orioles: 3B Jordan Westburg (hand) and INF Ramón Urías will begin rehab assignments with Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday.

UP NEXT

San Francisco's Logan Webb (12-10, 3.53 ERA) faces Zach Eflin (10-9, 3.55) in the series finale Thursday afternoon. Eflin is 5-2 with a 2.22 ERA since coming to Baltimore in a July trade with Tampa Bay.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

Baltimore Orioles' Jackson Holliday (7) celebrates with Anthony Santander, left, after scoring on a groundout hit in by Cedric Mullins during the third inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Hayden Birdsong delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

San Francisco Giants' Heliot Ramos slides into home base to score in front of Baltimore Orioles catcher James McCann during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Hayden Birdsong delivers during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Orioles' Gunnar Henderson (2) reacts after striking out on a foul tip during the third inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

San Francisco Giants' Mike Yastrzemski rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

San Francisco Giants' Michael Conforto (8) and Tyler Fitzgerald, right, celebrate after both scoring on a single hit in by Casey Schmitt during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)