Deshaun Watson entered the NFL in 2017 as one of the most highly-touted quarterback prospects in years. His electric playmaking ability and deep ball accuracy made him an immediate standout in Houston. But beyond the stats and highlight reels, how does Watson fare against true competition, aka teams that finished the regular season .500 or better?
At SportsAndFitnessDigest.com, we define “winning teams” as those that ended the regular season with a .500 or better record. This standard helps create a fair baseline for evaluating quarterback success against legitimate opponents.
Let’s take a closer look at Deshaun Watson’s regular season record against winning teams.
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Deshaun Watson’s Record vs Winning Teams
As of the end of the 2024 NFL regular season, Deshaun Watson holds a career record of 12–27 (.308) against teams that finished the season .500 or better. Only games in which Watson started are included in this analysis.
Year-by-Year Breakdown
| Season | Record | Notable Wins | Notable Losses |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1–2 | Bengals | Patriots, Chiefs |
| 2018 | 3–4 | Cowboys, Colts, Titans | Patriots, Eagles, Colts, Seahawks |
| 2019 | 3–3 | Patriots, Chiefs, Titans | Ravens, Saints, Colts |
| 2020 | 1–6 | Patriots | Chiefs, Ravens, Steelers, Colts (2x) |
| 2022 | 1–2 | Commanders | Bengals, Ravens |
| 2023 | 1–2 | 49ers | Steelers, Ravens |
| 2024 | 2–8 | Steelers, Bengals | Ravens, Chiefs, Texans, Cowboys, Eagles |
Career Total: 12 Wins – 27 Losses (.308)
Watson’s most productive season against winning teams came in 2019, where he delivered wins over playoff-bound squads like the Patriots and Chiefs. However, since 2020, his success rate has dipped, especially following a long layoff and transition to Cleveland.
Chart: Deshaun Watson vs .500+ Teams
Evaluating Watson’s Performance Against Top Competition
Watson’s record against winning teams reflects a quarterback capable of big moments but one who hasn’t consistently delivered wins against elite opponents. His early career with Houston showed flashes of greatness, like his win over New England in 2019 and a high-scoring duel with the Chiefs.
But as the Texans struggled to maintain roster talent and Watson endured off-field controversies, his win rate dropped. After missing the entire 2021 season, his comeback with the Browns has yet to result in a strong resurgence.
In Cleveland, Watson has played well at times, including a clutch win over the 49ers in 2023. Still, the Browns have struggled in divisional play and against other AFC contenders, limiting Watson’s ability to accumulate more wins against strong opponents.
For comparison, here’s how Watson stacks up against other active quarterbacks:
- Patrick Mahomes: 41–20 (.672)
- Josh Allen: 21–23 (.477)
- Russell Wilson: 34–45 (.430)
- Kirk Cousins: 23–38 (.377)
- Jared Goff: 24–37 (.393)
- Dak Prescott: 19–38 (.333)
- Kyler Murray: 9–21 (.300)
- Deshaun Watson: 12–27 (.308)
- Matthew Stafford: 33–84 (.282)
- Justin Herbert: 10–26 (.278)
Watson falls in the lower half of the pack. He is behind Mahomes and Allen by a wide margin but ahead of a few others like Stafford and Herbert.
See all NFL quarterbacks against winning teams.
Why This Metric Matters
Facing winning teams is a true test of quarterback play. These games typically come against playoff-caliber opponents with strong defenses, smart coaching, and the ability to expose weaknesses. Watson’s ability to win these matchups is critical for evaluating his legacy and future prospects.
If Cleveland hopes to break through in a crowded AFC, Watson will need to perform better in these high-stakes situations.
Final Thoughts
Deshaun Watson’s record against winning teams tells the story of a talented quarterback whose career has been shaped by early success, organizational dysfunction, and the challenge of restarting in Cleveland.
He has the physical tools and big-play ability to thrive, but the results haven’t consistently shown up on the scoreboard against the NFL’s toughest teams. His .308 win percentage in these matchups remains a critical area for growth as the Browns look to contend.
