MMQB Week 13: Deshaun Watson Returns, Bengals Make Statement in Win Over Chiefs

Links to all our coverage of NFL Sunday, including Albert Breer’s trip to Houston for Texans-Browns and conversations with Joe Burrow, Nick Bosa, Geno Smith, Kevin O’Connell and Josh Allen.

Welcome to Week 13 of the NFL season here at The MMQB. We are trying things a little differently with Albert Breer’s Monday-morning column, publishing items as separate stories throughout the morning. Below are links to everything Albert wrote about Week 13, plus more from our staff.

Scenes From Deshaun Watson’s Long Day in Houston

Deshaun Watson stands in the middle of the NRG Stadium in Houston in his first game with the Browns.
Watson returned to the stadium he called home for four NFL seasons :: Nick Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images

The Texans owner’s wife turned her back on him. The stands were half-empty. And his play? Shaky. Albert Breer reports on what Watson’s first game back was like for those in attendance.


Ten Takeaways: The Bengals Are Legit Super Bowl Contenders

The Bengals celebrate after a touchdown in a Week 13 win over the Chiefs
The Bengals are roaring back into the form we saw during their Super Bowl run :: Katie Stratman/USA TODAY Sports

Albert Breer speaks to Joe Burrow about a statement win over the Chiefs. Plus, Nick Bosa on the 49ers’ defense and why it’s more than capable of carrying the team, Josh Allen’s incredible play, Bill Belichick’s praise for the Vikings, and another big win for Geno Smith.


Six From Saturday: Quentin Johnston Is One of Several TCU Players to Know Before the Draft

TCU WR Quentin Johnston runs after a catch against Kansas.
Johnston has a chance to be the first wide receiver off the board in April :: Jay Biggerstaff/USA TODAY Sports

Plus more notes on college football championship weekend, including thoughts on how Deion Sanders is a case study in the coaching pipeline.


More From The MMQB Staff

Brock Purdy throws a pass off his back foot in a 49ers win over the Dolphins.
Kelley L Cox/USA TODAY Sports

Conor Orr: The 49ers Can Absolutely Go on a Playoff Run With Brock Purdy

Conor Orr: Deshaun Watson’s First Game Back Showed He Has a Long Way to Go

Week 13 Game Balls: Recognizing the week’s top performers


MMQB Podcast

Listen to Gary Gramling and Conor Orr break down all the games and every major story line on The MMQB Podcast, in your feed every Monday morning.


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Albert Breer
ALBERT BREER

Albert Breer is a senior writer covering the NFL for Sports Illustrated, delivering the biggest stories and breaking news from across the league. He has been on the NFL beat since 2005 and joined SI in 2016. Breer began his career covering the New England Patriots for the MetroWest Daily News and the Boston Herald from 2005 to '07, then covered the Dallas Cowboys for the Dallas Morning News from 2007 to '08. He worked for The Sporting News from 2008 to '09 before returning to Massachusetts as The Boston Globe's national NFL writer in 2009. From 2010 to 2016, Breer served as a national reporter for NFL Network. In addition to his work at Sports Illustrated, Breer regularly appears on NBC Sports Boston, 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston, FS1 with Colin Cowherd, The Rich Eisen Show and The Dan Patrick Show. A 2002 graduate of Ohio State, Breer lives near Boston with his wife, a cardiac ICU nurse at Boston Children's Hospital, and their three children.