CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Browns kick the 2022 season off in Charlotte, North Carolina against a familiar face – Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Cleveland’s NFL franchise hasn’t won an opener since 2004 – a 20-3 triumph over the Ravens at home. They tied the Steelers 21-21 in 2018 and are 1-21-1 in openers since returning to the NFL in 1999.
Mayfield, named one of the team captains for Carolina this season, would like nothing other than to get revenge on the team that deposed him in March and traded him in July by beating them Sunday in his Panthers debut.
Carolina is coming off of a 5-12 campaign and their head coach, Matt Rhule, is thought to be on the hot seat this year while Cleveland finished 2021 a disappointing 8-9 after making the playoffs with Mayfield, picked first overall in 2018, at QB in 2020.
What to watch for – All eyes will be on the quarterbacks – Mayfield of the Panthers and Jacoby Brissett for the Browns. Mayfield’s 2021 was injury riddled, contributing to an underwhelming season that included a rift with Odell Beckham Jr. that alienated part of the locker room and led to Beckham’s departure in addition to Mayfield lobbing public criticism at head coach Kevin Stefanski. Brissett becomes the 18th different Week 1 starter for the Browns since 1999 and 33rd overall when he takes the field in Carolina. Brissett, who has 37 career starts under his belt, made five starts last season for Miami where he threw for 1,089 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions while rushing for another score.
The last time Browns defensive coordinator Joe Woods faced Mayfield he was San Francisco’s defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator and the 49ers limited Mayfield to 8-22 passing for 100 yards and two interceptions in a 31-3 rout in October 2019.
Browns cornerback Denzel Ward anchors a talented and deep secondary. Ward is the only player in the NFL with 10 or more pass breakups and at least two interceptions in each of the last four seasons. Ward, fresh off a $100 million contract extension this offseason, broke up 10 passes and picked three more off last year.
Ward and the secondary looks to contain Panthers receiver DJ Moore, who led the team with a career-high 93 catches in 2021. He tallied 1,157 yards and four touchdowns for Carolina. Ward, Stefon Diggs and Travis Kelce are the only players with over 1,100 receiving yards in each of the last three seasons.
Cleveland’s offensive punch is expected to come on the ground with the 1-2 punch of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Chubb once again finished second in the NFL in rushing last season racking up 1,259 yards and eight touchdowns. He’s the only player with over 950 yards and eight or more TDs in each of the last four seasons. Hunt is coming off an injury plagued season that limited him to eight games. He still
Sure, containing Mayfield will be a priority for the Browns, but Christian McCaffrey can wreck their afternoon all by himself. Despite being limited to seven games last year due to injury, he still had 785 scrimmage yards and leads all active players by averaging 113.8 scrimmage yards per game in his career. The duel threat back has 11 games with 10 or more catches – most all-time by a running back. McCaffrey shares the backfield with Chuba Hubbard, who ran for five touchdowns last season.
Browns All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett, who is coming off a career-high and single-season franchise record 16-sack campaign in 2021, is just 3.5 sacks shy of tying Clay Matthews Jr.’s franchise record for career sacks. He’ll square off against Panthers rookie left tackle Ikem Ekwonu, picked sixth overall in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Jadeveon Clowney returns opposite of Garrett. He ranked second on the team with 11 tackles for loss and nine sacks last year.
The Browns special teams unit was rebuilt this offseason after being mostly unproductive a year ago but a season-ending Achilles tear by Pro Bowl returner Jakeem Grant, signed as a free agent was a significant blow. Demetric Felton will handle return duties in his place. Rookie Kicker Cade York showed off his big leg with regularity and accuracy during camp and the preseason but now the kicks count. Punter Corey Bojorquez, who averaged 46.6 yards per punt and a 40.,0 net average with Green bay a year ago will be counted on to help flip field position.
Last week – Season opener for both teams
Last Time – December 9, 2018: Browns 26, Panthers 20
Series – Panthers lead 4-2
Projected starters for Browns – Offense: WR Amari Cooper, LT Jedrick Wills Jr., LG Joel Bitonio, C Ethan Pocic, RG Wyatt Teller, RT James Hudson III, TE David Njoku, WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, QB Jacoby Brissett, RB Nick Chubb, TE Harrison Bryant
Defense: DE Myles Garrett, DT Jordan Elliott, DT Taven Bryan, DE Jadeveon Clowney, SAM Sione Takitaki, MIKE Anthony Walker Jr., WILL Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, CB Denzel Ward, CB Greg Newsome II, SS Grant Delpit, FS John Johnson III
Inactives – QB Kellen Mond, WR Michael Woods II, RB D’Ernest Johnson, S Richard LeCounte III, DE Isaiah Thomas, T Chris Hubbard, T Jack Conklin
Injury report – OUT: WR Michael Woods II (hamstring); QUESTIONABLE: RT Jack Conklin (knee), OT Chris Hubbard (elbow); EXPECTED TO PLAY: DE Jadeveon Clowney (illness/elbow), S Grant Delpit (hip), CB AJ Green (hip), S Ronnie Harrison Jr. (hamstring), DE Isaiah Thomas (hand), DE Chase Winovich (hamstring)
Uniforms – Brown jersey, white pants
Broadcast – Radio: 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 WNCX and the University Hospitals Cleveland Browns radio network. TV: WOIO TV-19 (CBS)
Kickoff – 1:03 p.m. Bank of America Stadium – Charlotte, North Carolina
Prediction – Browns 23, Panthers 17
Our record – 0-0
