Hi Browns fans, the Browns will open their 2024 season welcoming the Dallas Cowboys to the Browns newly renamed Huntington Bank Stadium. Game time is 3:25 CDT and the ChicagoLand Browns Backers/Northside Dawg Pound will be gathering at Burke’s Public House 5401 N. Broadway to cheer them on to victory.
Both teams enter the new season following disappointing losses in last season’s first-round wildcard games with the Browns losing to the Houston Texans 45-14 and the Cowboys losing to the Green Bay Packers 48-32. As good as the Browns were on defense last season, the Cowboys were equally as good on offense finishing the season first in points scored and total offense.
The Browns begin the season with The NFL’s leading defense and several major questions on offense. How well will the team perform in their revamped offense under new offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey? Cleveland’s offense is expected to feature more run-pass-options (RPO), planned quarterback runs, pass rollouts, and option “read and react” pass routes to take better advantage of Deshaun Watson’s unique skill set. How well will Deshaun Watson play following his season-ending shoulder surgery? Watson did not take a single in-game snap during the pre-season; relying instead on his work during training camp and a 2-day joint practice with the Minnesota Vikings to prepare for the season.
How will new WR Jerry Jeudy, acquired from Denver during the off-season, contribute to the new offense? Jeudy had 54 receptions for 758 yards and 2 TDs for the Broncos last season but fell out of favor with Denver HC Sean Payton and was traded to the Browns.
Who will start at LT for the Browns on Sunday with regular starter Jedrick Wills Jr. still recovering from knee surgery? Kevin Stefanski has been very secretive about whether he plans to shift two-time All-Pro RT Jack Conklin over to LT, will he start 3-year veteran back-up James Hudson at LT, or will he rotate them in and out depending on game situations. His decision is even more important with All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons (14 sacks, 103 QB pressures, and 18 tackles for loss) playing all over the Cowboys’ defensive line.
Fortunately for the Browns, Dallas All-Pro CB DaRon Bland who led the NFL with 9 interceptions with 5 returned for touchdowns last season is out for the game. The Browns’ defense will have its hands full with the Cowboys’ passing attack ranked #1 in passing yards per game and pass attempts per game. The offense is led by 2-time league MVP quarterback Dak Prescott. Last season he led the NFL with 36 TD passes and was 3rd in passing yards with 4,519 yards. His Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade of 90.0 was 4th among the 38 qualifying QBs.
Prescott’s primary target will be 3-time Pro Bowl slot WR CeeDee Lamb; who last year led the NFL with 135 receptions and was second in receiving yards with 1,749 yards. Lamb missed all of training camp in a contract dispute. Prescott also likes to target WR Brandin Cooks (55 catches for 660 yards and 8 TD’s) and TE Jake Ferguson (71 receptions for 761 yards and 5 TD’s).
Last season’s starting RB Tony Pollard left the Cowboys in the off-season, but Dallas acquired former Cowboy Ezekiel Elliott who averaged 3.5 yards per carry last season as well as veteran RB Dalvin Cook who averaged 3.2 yards per carry last season.
The Browns defense will undoubtedly attack Dallas’ two rookie starting offensive linemens. i.e. 1st round pick (29th) LT Tyler Guyton (6’7” 327 lbs.) and 3rd round pick (73rd) C Cooper Beebe (6’4” 335 lbs.).
The Browns will also look to send pressure at RT Terence Steele whos PFF grade of 52.3 was 69 out of 81 qualifying RT’s.
GO BROWNS……..GO GUARDIANS!