Deshaun Watson Not Concerned About Dueling With Lamar Jackson

As the Browns and Ravens get ready to face off this weekend, the Browns QB isn't focused on him vs. Lamar Jackson narratives

The first time the Browns and Ravens squared off this season, Deshaun Watson didn't play.

Way back in Week 4, Watson's shoulder injury saga was in its early stages and after the star quarterback tested his arm out pregame, he was deemed unready to play by the team. A Ravens blowout followed, as rookie QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson was forced to make his NFL debut much earlier than expected. It went poorly, as the 28-3 score suggests.

Now, as Watson is back under center for the Browns and a rematch with the Ravens looms large this weekend, the fanfare over an epic quarterback duel is ramping up. Deshaun Watson vs. Lamar Jackson. Lamar Jackson vs. Deshaun Watson. What more could you want?

It's an easy narrative for the NFL to sell fans. For Watson, though, it's white noise. 

"I don't play against Lamar, I play against the Ravens defense," Watson said on Wednesday. "I can't focus on what Lamar is doing on the opposite side and trying to do that. I gotta focus on attacking this defense. If I get worried about another quarterback then, shit, I'm not gonna play well against the defense ... That's my main focus is the Ravens defense."

Deshaun Watson Explains Browns Lack Of Production At Wide Receiver

Don't let Watson's indifference be mistaken for disrespect. 

Jackson is having an MVP caliber season, with a 71.5 completion percentage, 14 total touchdowns through the air and on the ground, and just under 2,500 yards of total offense. What's scary is the former MVP seems to just be hitting his stride in Todd Monken's offense. That's a scary thought for the Browns heading into the weekend.

"He's electric. He's exciting to watch," Watson said of his quarterback counterpart. "He's a guy that any given play he can make something happen. Regardless of if you think you have him sacked, or you think you have him bundled up, he's gonna get out it. It's fun to watch him, it's fun to see him on the other side. We just gotta make sure we try to contain him as much as possible."

This game does have some major stakes attached to it. At 7-2, Baltimore is tied for first place in the entire AFC, but more importantly for Cleveland, sits atop a competitive division to boot.

A win over the Browns would give Ravens a 3-1 record against their AFC North rivals, and would likely slam the door on any hope Cleveland has of winning the division.

Specific to Watson, his Week 9 performance was an encouraging one, but his two best games in a Browns uniform came against the lowly Cardinals and a mediocre Titans team. This matchup with Baltimore serves as crossroads of sorts for him, in a season with high expectations. 

If he shines and the Browns win, there are conversations to be had about just how far this team can go come January. Conversely, if he struggles and the Browns lose, well, it'll be more doubt about Watson's ability and perhaps a sign that Cleveland just isn't ready to topple the Goliaths of this league.

No pressure or anything.

"[Just] another game to go 1-0," Watson said of the high stakes AFC North showdown. "That's the vision we have is focus on Baltimore, and that's it. We're not we're on the outside noise or who's the best team in the league and things like that. It's the NFL, everybody's good. And anybody can get beat on any given day. Our main focus is execution and mastering this game plan and then once Sunday come we'll go out there and play."