Deshaun Watson has led the Cleveland Browns to the top of the AFC North after returning from a twice-ruptured Achilles and is delivering fairly decent performances when they need him most.

But former Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowler Le’Veon Bell decided to take the conversation a step further, declaring that Watson is “having a better year” than Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. Takes like that usually don’t take long to go viral, and this one was no exception, as fans pushed back on the wild comparison.

Deshaun Watson’s Game-Winning Drives Form the Backdrop of Le’Veon Bell’s Take

In Sunday’s 27-24 win over the Tennessee Titans, Watson threw for 308 yards, his first 300-yard game as a Brown and his first since January 2021 with the Houston Texans. He also ran in a 9-yard touchdown for a 24-17 lead with 4:34 to play. After the Titans tied it with 58 seconds left, he set up Andre Szmyt’s 32-yard field goal as time expired.

Watson has led a game-winning drive in all five Browns wins, a feat only Troy Aikman in 1990 and Matthew Stafford in 2016 had managed across a team’s first five wins since the AFL-NFL merger.

“Being in this league for 10 years now, I understand that a lot of games are going to come down to that, if not every game,” Watson said afterward.

A night later, Prescott went 15-of-27 for 212 yards and three touchdowns without an interception in the Cowboys’ 38-21 win over the divisional rivals Philadelphia Eagles.

Bell ended his post with a couple of words for anyone inclined to disagree on his Watson-Prescott hot take: “But y’all not ready to have that conversation.”

Fans Question Logic Behind Deshaun Watson vs. Dak Prescott Take

Two fans took aim at Bell on whether he was taking a hit at Prescott because he is a Cowboys quarterback. One fan asked, “You hate the Cowboys that bad?”

Another fan wondered if the hot take was purely to kick-start a debate in the comment section from fired-up Cowboys fans: “Attention seeker…. Come on dude.”

One fan joked in trade terms, asking whether the Browns quarterback is good enough to replace a star like Prescott at the Cowboys: “I’m sure Dallas would gladly trade Dak for Watson lol.”

Another fan kept it friendly with Bell but said, “This is a wild statement.”

One fan came with the numbers, setting the two quarterbacks’ season lines side by side before asking, “Outside of 2 fewer INTs, wth is Watson better in?” and added that people will say “anything to trash Dak.”

Todd Monken, in his first year as head coach, made Watson the starter before the season. Seven weeks in, Watson’s season has a well-known backer in the awards race.

On ESPN’s “First Take” this week, Stephen A. Smith said, “Deshaun Watson right now is the Comeback Player of the Year.”

Through Week 7, Prescott has completed 178 of 273 passes for 1,851 yards, fifth in the NFL, with 13 touchdown passes, tied for seventh, and five interceptions. Watson is 136-of-210 for 1,482 yards, 16th in the NFL, with seven touchdown passes, tied for 21st, and three interceptions.

Prescott has thrown into tight windows on 21.2% of his attempts, tied for third-highest among current qualifiers, compared with 14.3% for Watson.

Prescott has also been the more aggressive passer. He has thrown into tight windows on 21.2% of his attempts, tied for third-highest among current qualifiers, compared with 14.3% for Watson, according to Next Gen Stats. And Watson has also been sacked 25 times, compared to Prescott’s 7.

Still, a few numbers do favor Watson. He averages 7.1 yards per attempt to Prescott’s 6.8, and he has run for 215 yards and a touchdown on 48 carries.

In PFN’s QB Impact Score, through seven weeks, Prescott fares better, ranking 10th with an 80.2 grade while Watson is ranked 24th with a 70.0 grade.

Both quarterbacks play again Sunday, Nov. 1, with both teams’ Week 8 games kicking off at 1 p.m. ET. Watson and the Browns visit Bell’s old team, the Steelers, at Acrisure Stadium, while Prescott and the Cowboys host the Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium.