After improving on the road, Deshaun Watson and the Browns return home to face winless Giants

— Deshaun Watson walked off field following a dreful home opener two weeks ago with a towel covering his he, looking as if he was trying to hide.

He's returning a little less embarrassed.

A much better performance last week in a 18-13 win at Jacksonville boosted Watson's confidence as Browns (1-1) prepare to host New York Giants (0-2) on Sunday. Still, Cleveland's quarterback said re's plenty of room for improvement.

“We left a lot of opportunities out re on field overall,” he said. "All of us.”

It's different for Giants, who retreated to ir locker room in disgust and disbelief last week after scoring three touchdowns to Washington's ne and still losing 21-18 as Commanders kicked seven field goals.

In aftermath, coach Brian Daboll was criticized for t having a second kicker active and available in case Graham Ga, who went into game nursing a groin injury, got hurt. As luck, or in this case b luck would have it, Ga injured his hamstring on opening kickoff.

New York punter Jamie Gillan missed an extra point, and Giants failed on a pair of 2-point tries, leing to Daboll having to fend off questions about his decision and future.

And it's only Week 3.

“Everyone realizes our record,” Giants quarterback Daniel Jones said. “I think everybody understands that, but one’s discourd.”

Watson's bounce-back gave Browns some hope that he's finally moved past two disappointing seasons.

Showing more decisiveness than in opener — his first game since shoulder surgery in vember — Watson went 22 of 34 for 186 yards and scored on a 1-yard run against Jaguars. He also me a couple of improvised plays that only a few QBs in NFL could dare duplicate.

It was a major step forward after Watson was inaccurate and unstey in opener against Dallas, a debut dud he attributed to a long layoff and Cleveland's new offense.

“It’s just Game 2, just more reps and just getting comfortable with scheme,” Watson said. “That was our first time, all 11 of us toger plus coaching staff toger calling plays and just operating in a live setting.

"So we’re always a little bit more aware of where we wanted to go with ball and game plan. So it’s definitely an opportunity for us to improve this week and just try to build on that.”

Amari Cooper has been unrecognizable on field.

Cleveland's . 1 receiver in his . 2 jersey hasn't looked like himself.

Despite being targeted 17 times by Watson, Cooper has caught just five passes for 27 yards in first two games. five-time Pro Bowler has dropped two long passes in key spots — one of m an easy touchdown.

It's worst start in a 10-year career for Cooper, who me a surprising mission this week when he said hn't been practicing with same focus. He said that all changed this week.

“Just me kwing my game, kwing myself, just got to go out re and play my brand of football, play to my standard,” said Cooper, who is in his final year under contract. “I haven’t been doing that past couple of weeks, but I’ve been motivated, so it’s time to get going. I’ll be back.”

New York's passing game has spent a lot of time in one, ahem, Naber-hood.

Jones has h targets on 65 of his 70 passes, with 25 directed at rookie Malik Nabers.

While maybe t ideal, Jones' attention to Nabers has been productive as . 6 overall pick from LSU has 15 catches for 193 yards and a touchdown. He's averaging 12.9 yards per grab, ranking him in top 5 in league, but he also h a crucial drop in fourth quarter at Washington.

Jones expects Browns to do ir own focusing on Nabers, and understands he'd better have a Plan B.

“We have to be rey for that and understand that when you have a player like that, and you feature him like that, defenses are going to just,” he said.

Browns are running afoul.

Cleveland has been called for a league-high 24 penalties after two games, five more than next closest team.

After being whistled 11 times in opener, Browns were called for 13 last week, including three in a span of four plays as ir self-inflicted errors pushed m out of field-goal range in fourth quarter.

“We need to be better in that area,” coach Kevin Stefanski said. “It’s hard to win. We don’t need to make it harder on ourselves.”

If re has been a weakness in Giants defense under new coordinator Shane Bowen it’s been against run. opponents are averaging 163 yards through two games.

Commanders rolled up 215 yards with Brian Robinson gaining a career-high 133.

Giants inside linebacker Bobby Okereke said tackling and filling right gaps were part of problem. He ded some players, himself included, are trying to do too much.

“Talking about me specifically, kind of three quarters doing your job, a quarter trying to do someone else’s job, trying to make a play and that trickles down," he said. "Everybody just needs to focus on doing ir job.”

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