CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Kevin Stefanski and the Cleveland Browns can make history as the former offensive coordinator and assistant for 14 years with the Vikings makes his head coaching debut Sunday in Baltimore for the 2020 opener.
Stefanski can become the first Browns head coach to win his debut since Bud Carson’s team took a blowtorch to the Steelers in the 1989 opener, 51-0 at Three Rivers Stadium. Carson, who was fired after a 2-7 start the following season, is also the last coach to lead the franchise to a division title.
If it’s felt like an eternity since the Browns won a season opener, well, it has. Try September 12, 2004, a 20-3 win over Baltimore in Cleveland.
With no preseason games or fans in the stands, it's anyone's guess what to expect Sunday.
Stefanski will run the offensive show and call his own plays this season.
What to watch for
The Browns invested in their offensive line in the offseason by signing right tackle Jack Conklin to a three-year, $42 million free agent contract and selecting left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. 10th overall in the NFL Draft. The team also drafted center Nick Harris in the fifth round. He’ll start in place of JC Tretter should the veteran, who had a knee scope on August 13, be unable to play.
Stefanski likes to run two tight end sets and he was provided two-time Pro Bowler Austin Hooper, who signed a four-year, $42 million deal to leave the Falcons, during the offseason. Rookie Harrison Bryant had a strong training camp and has leaped over David Njoku on the depth chart.
2020 marks the return of the fullback to the Browns base offense. Andy Janovich, acquired in March from Denver, will be counted on to block for running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt but he’ll also get opportunities to carry the ball and catch it out of the backfield.
Cleveland will field arguably its most talented offensive unit in the expansion era this season which boasts five current or former Pro Bowlers. Chubb’s 1,494 rushing yards ranked second in the league a year ago, the most by a Brown since Jim Brown ripped off 1,544 in 1965. Kareem Hunt, who led the NFL in rushing as a rookie in 2017, just signed a two-year extension and is healthy. Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry became the first receiving duo in franchise history to top 1,000 yards in the same season in 2019 while Hooper has recorded at least 70 receptions and scored 10 touchdowns combined the last two years.
Myles Garrett will play his first game since serving a suspension, which lasted six games, for striking Steelers quarterback mason Rudolph in the head with a helmet last November during an altercation. Garrett had 10 sacks in 10 games prior to the ban and his 30.5 sacks through his first three years is a franchise record.
Cleveland’s defense was the only unit in the NFL not to allow a 300-yard passer in 2019 but they enter Week 1 hurting with starting cornerback Greedy Williams out with a shoulder injury, linebacker Mack Wilson out with a hyperextended knee and nickelback Kevin Johnson sidelined with a lacerated liver.
The Ravens, who return 11 of their record-tying 13 Pro bowlers from a year ago, enter 2020 as the two-time defending AFC North champions but still smarting from an early postseason exit following a 14-2 regular season in 2019. They have not won a playoff game since 2014.
Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson is coming off an historic season that him become the youngest QB to win NFL MVP honors after throwing for 3,127 yards and 36 touchdowns while rushing for 1,206 yards and seven more scores.
The Ravens bolstered their defensive front by acquiring five-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Calais Campbell from Jacksonville. His 151 tackles-for-loss since 2008 rank second in the NFL behind J.J. Watt and he has recorded at least five sacks in 11 straight seasons, the longest active streak in the NFL. Baltimore also signed defensive end Derek Wolfe, who is coming off a career-high seven sack season and has 33.0 sacks over his eight-year career. They also drafted linebacker Patrick Queen in the first round.
Last Week
Season opener for both teams.
The last time
December 22, 2019: Ravens 31, Browns 15
Series history
Ravens lead 31-11
Rankings
Radio.com Week 1 NFL Power rankings – Browns No. 16, Ravens No. 3
Probable starters for Browns
Offense: WR Jarvis Landry, LT Jedrick Wills Jr., LG Joel Bitonio, C JC Tretter, RG Wyatt Teller, RT Jack Conklin, TE Austin Hooper, WR Odell Beckham Jr., QB Baker Mayfield, RB Nick Chubb, FB Andy Janovich
Defense: DE Myles Garrett, DT Sheldon Richardson, DT Larry Ogunjobi, DE Olivier Vernon, WILL Jacob Philips, MIKE B.J. Goodson, SAM Sione Takitaki, CB Denzel Ward, CB Terrance Mitchell, SS Karl Joseph, FS Andrew Sendejo
Injury report
OUT: OT Chris Hubbard (knee), CB Kevin Johnson (liver), CB Greedy Williams (shoulder), LB Mack Wilson (knee)
QUESTIONALBE: C JC Tretter (knee), DB MJ Stewart (hamstring)
Uniforms
Browns jerseys, 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. – M&T Bank Stadium – Baltimore, Maryland
Our prediction
Ravens 30, Browns 20
Our prediction record
0-0
