Todd Monken spent his Monday press conference on the half of Sunday’s game that nearly cost the Cleveland Browns, not the finish that won it. A day after Andre Szmyt’s 37-yard field goal beat the Baltimore Ravens 13-10 as time expired, the first-year head coach said there was “more than one thing” behind an offense that produced 46 yards before halftime, and that the staff has to study how Cleveland opens games.
The win moved the Browns to 4-2 and into a share of first place in the AFC North. All four of their victories have been settled late, which is part of why Monken framed the next step as getting Deshaun Watson into better spots early rather than relying on another rescue in the fourth quarter.
LIVE: HC Todd Monken speaks to the media on Victory Monday https://t.co/t5nA4rBJs7
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) October 19, 2026
What Monken wants fixed
Monken did not pin the slow start on one position group. Chris Easterling reported that the coach saw plays available in the first half that simply were not made, and Scott Petrak reported that one item on the list for players and coaches alike is Watson moving through his progressions faster on certain snaps. Watson finished 16 of 26 for 164 yards, with his biggest throw a 33-yarder to Jerry Jeudy on third-and-5 that set up the winning kick.
There was progress to point to as well. Monken said the running game took “some steps” against Baltimore, an encouraging sign with Quinshon Judkins out and Audric Estime, signed off another club’s practice squad last week, scoring the tying touchdown from 2 yards. He also said the offense had fewer communication breakdowns than in previous weeks, with less of the self-inflicted damage that has followed this team.
our RB room did a great job getting in the mix this week@getspectrum | #DawgPound pic.twitter.com/HcjMiTRzzW
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) October 19, 2026
The defense that carried it
The other side of the ball gave the offense time to find its footing. Baltimore scored on its first two drives and then went nine possessions without points. Monken said a key was forcing Derrick Henry to hesitate and bounce runs sideways instead of hitting the hole downhill; Henry ran 17 times for 58 yards and lost the fourth-quarter fumble that Tyson Campbell recovered to start the comeback.
Health heading into Week 7
Monken said it is too early to know which injured players will be available this week, though he hopes to get a few back. That list includes defensive tackles Mason Graham and Mike Hall Jr., running backs Judkins and Dylan Sampson, and safety Grant Delpit, who left Sunday’s game in the first quarter with a concussion. Updates will appear on our injuries page as the week goes on.
What comes next
The Browns visit the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, October 25, at 1:00 p.m. EDT (Game Center). Cleveland is 3-0 at home this season and 1-2 on the road. Follow the club on our Browns team page, and relive Sunday’s finish in the Ravens-Browns Game Center.
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