CLEVELAND -- Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, who delivered his sixth game-winning drive of the season Sunday, called the 27-24 victory over the Houston Texans, his former team, "definitely special."
"I think people know the history behind it," he said. "Didn't leave on a good note, but it's all love for the city of Houston, the fans there, the players there, some of the staff there, most definitely that I got to see today. And even the older ownership. So it was good to see a lot of people, familiar faces, but it's still love, but it's definitely a good win."
Watson played the first four years of his career in Houston but sat out the 2021 season amid a trade request and more than two dozen accusations against him of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct during massage sessions. He ultimately was traded to the Browns in March 2022.
Before Sunday's game, he had faced the Texans once in his career, when he made his Browns debut in Week 13 of the 2022 season following an 11-game suspension in the wake of the abovementioned accusations.
On Sunday, Watson returned from a concussion that sidelined him in Week 9 and completed 25-of-40 passes for 312 yards. He also rushed for 49 yards and a touchdown.
Watson helped rally Cleveland from a 17-point first-half deficit, its first win after trailing by at least 17 points since Week 5 of the 2014 season. That ended a streak of 62 consecutive games when trailing by at least 17 points, including the playoffs.
Watson's sixth game-winning drive tied him with the Broncos' Bo Nix for the most in the NFL this season. Cleveland became the first team in NFL history to have each of its first six wins come by four points or fewer.
"I wish collectively (Watson) and I together would play better early and coach better early and we didn't have to get to this," Browns coach Todd Monken said. "And it's not just been then, it's been our team last week the same way. It's been a credit to our team, our guys up front. And like I said, we got a special group. It says a lot about Deshaun. And I'm happy for him. ... I don't care what he says. This meant a lot."
The win moved the Browns (6-4) into the AFC's seventh seed as they head into their bye week. They already have exceeded last season's win total with seven games remaining.
"What would that have been on FanDuel, right?" Monken said of the Browns' string of close wins. "And I don't gamble. I don't gamble. But there's no way. There's no way. But I'm done trying to plan out anything in all my years in the NFL. I'm done trying to plan out how games are going to go."