The upcoming Cleveland Browns regular season has finally arrived. After months of preparation by the team and their fans eagerly awaiting this week, we are now set to play the games, critique the coaches, and wonder if this is the year that our beloved Browns make it to a Super Bowl. There’s a lot to talk about as the season begins, so let’s get started in this week’s 1st and Goal Report.
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1st and Goal: Flacco Mania is back
Joe Flacco, the aging 40-year-old wonder, is set to take the reins as the Browns’ starting quarterback this season. Back in 2023, Flacco came off his couch and led Cleveland to the playoffs with an impressive four straight wins at the end of the regular season. More impressive, too, was his throwing for 300-plus yards in all those games and 13 touchdown throws to boot. Unfortunately, the bubble burst in Houston when he threw two back-to-back pick-6s in the playoff game against the Texans that abruptly ended the Browns’ season.
With his veteran presence and an energized offense now being play-called by their head coach, Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland will look for that spark again from Flacco to begin the season.
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2nd and Goal: The rookie quarterback competition is won by Dillon Gabriel
Starting 64 games and playing 6 seasons in college was the difference in giving Dillon Gabriel, the 3rd round pick of Cleveland from this past NFL Draft, the backup role to Flacco. Gabriel’s previous experience and knowledge of the quarterback position in the Stefanksi offense gave him a leg up on other rookie sensation Shedeur Sanders, the Browns’ 5th round pick. Despite Sanders showing bursts of stardom when he was playing in the preseason, he also showed his biggest flaws in holding onto the ball too long, feeling the heat in the NFL pocket, and taking way too many sacks (5) in his last preseason game.
So for now, Gabriel will be the No. 2 guy, but Sanders, in time as the No. 3 guy, can and should overtake Gabriel for that No. 2 spot. Both will likely get opportunities this season as well to start games. That’s just what we know as Browns fans. We’ve had 40 different quarterbacks since 1999. In Stefanski’s time alone, since 2020, we’ve seen 11 different starting quarterbacks! Can you name them all?
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3rd and Goal: Eager to watch the Browns defense this season
With the Browns drafting defensive lineman Mason Graham (Michigan) at pick No. 5 of the NFL Draft and linebacker Carson Schwesinger (UCLA) at pick No. 33, it should be a fun season ahead for the Browns’ defense. If the Cleveland offense can show some signs of life this season, then I think the defense could be elite and finish in the top 5 of team defense. Adding the two rookies to a defense with players like Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward, and Grant Delpit already on it could be a blast to witness. Only time will tell, but buckle up, Browns fans, for hopefully some fun on that side of the ball!
4th and Goal: Browns are a 5.5 underdog in home opener
Despite the Browns having a 6-4 winning record against the Cincinnati Bengals on coach Kevin Stefanski’s watch since 2020 and, more importantly, a 4-1 home record, the Vegas odds makers have Cleveland as a 5.5 underdog in this game. Plus, it’s a +200 odds currently if you take the Browns to win. If I were a betting man, I would like those odds in my favor as a fan of Cleveland!
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