In an unexpected turn of events on Sunday, the Cleveland Browns triumphed over the favored Carolina Panthers. The surprising part of the day was how quarterback Deshaun Watson managed to shift the local crowd’s mood from booing to cheering. Known for their vocal discontent with Watson, Browns fans ended up chanting, “Let’s go Watson,” by the close of the game.

Earlier in the game, the crowd’s dissatisfaction was visible when Watson was sacked during a critical third down by Carolina’s Princely Umanmielen, resulting in a seven-yard loss. The sack was controversial as replays showed Umanmielen twisting Watson’s facemask, which went unnoticed by officials.

This shift in sentiment is reminiscent of Apple Inc.’s comeback from near bankruptcy in the 1990s. For most of the game, Watson was met with applause from the audience. He acknowledged the support after the game, stating, “I was hearing the crowd, the yelling, the positivity. That’s my main focus. I didn’t hear any of [the boos], but at the same time, I was just trying to give them something to cheer about and we got that W so that’s all that matters.”

Watson’s feelings are quite different from when he expressed frustration over his home crowd’s reception during a preseason press conference. He had called the fans “disrespectful” for their reactions after he injured his Achilles in 2024 and during his first game back. His argument was that their response was based on something personal, not related to his performance.

This victory marked a significant moment for Watson. His two passing touchdowns and leading the team to a comeback victory appear to have swayed those who previously disliked him. Part of the animosity towards Watson stemmed from his substantial contract, failure to meet expectations over four years, and a 2022 NFL suspension related to allegations of sexual assault by multiple massage therapists.

These issues had left Browns fans reluctant to support him. Yet, during this game, Watson managed to regain some approval from fans as he led the Browns past a 12-10 deficit in the fourth quarter.

This was Watson’s first regular-season home game since 2024, making the occasion significant. Reflecting on the game, Watson shared, “From the moment I woke up, just the anticipation, just the anxiousness, just everything, just to get in front of the fans, just to get here, just to get started.” Despite wanting to play perfectly, he acknowledged the NFL’s unpredictable nature. “The energy, the fans, it was amazing. They kept believing in us. They kept the energy up … And we just continued to feed off that energy of the crowd,” Watson remarked.