Anticipation, Tension Ramping up for Browns Heading Into Week 1

The Cleveland Browns will face off against their in-state rival Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday in their first game with several storylines surrounding both teams.

Just days away from the regular season opener, the Cleveland Browns are locked and loaded for their opening game on Sunday, while getting new bulletin board material out of Cincinnati and potentially missing their starting safety.

Safety Juan Thornhill, who's dealing with a calf injury, has a more uncertain situation. Thornhill was a limited practice participant on Wednesday and did not participate in Thursday or Friday's practice.

Thornhill is officially listed as questionable for Sunday on the Browns final injury report.

On a positive note, All-Pro cornerback Denzel Ward, who suffered his fourth concussion on August 26th, is off the team's injury report and will play on Sunday after practicing all week.

Even with the Browns potentially missing a key starter in Thornhill, the secondary is still amped to go against their division rivals.

Greg Newsome ll said Thursday that he "keeps receipts" of things that were said, including when Bengals star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase said last season that Newsome isn't "elite."

"We're all competitors and when you get a matchup like this early on, you're just super excited," Newsome said.

To make things better, on Thursday, Chase also provided the Browns with some possible bulletin board material. When asked if he's tired of the talk about the Cleveland Browns, Chase provided a very similar answer as JuJu Smith-Schuster did before the 2021 playoff win against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"It feels like a regular game to me, it doesn't feel any different. I mean it's just the hoopin' and hollerin' about the Cleveland, uh, um, Browns, I was about to call them to Elves," Chase said. Shortly after, Chase said he doesn't really pay attention to the talk about the Browns because "Cleveland is Cleveland."

"It's a regular game to me."

"It's just the hooping and hollering about the Cleveland Browns. I was about to call them the elf's (elves)."

Ja'Marr Chase doesn't want to hear about the #Bengals recent struggles against the Browns. @fox19 pic.twitter.com/adiQ20Y6iO

— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) September 7, 2023

A breakout candidate on this Browns defense is young cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. Emerson is expected to take another big leap this season to become an elite corner Emerson will likely see a lot of time on Sunday against Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins due to their similar size. 

Emerson completes an elite trio of cornerbacks (with Ward and Newsome) for the Browns to match up well against Bengals wideouts Chase, Higgins and Tyler Boyd.

The Browns pass-rush is nothing to overlook either, led by Myles Garrett. However, unlike in years past, Garrett finally has some playmakers to compliment him. Za'Darius Smith and Ogbo Okoronkwo are two guys who will look to get after Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow early and often.

Overall, this Browns defense is ready to roll under the direction of defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. This defense has real top-of-the-league potential and could carry the Browns to some wins this year. 

Offensively, the talent is there and Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson needs to click everything into place. 

Receiver Elijah Moore will be used in different ways on Sunday to keep the Bengals defense on their toes. It's imperative for Cleveland to get running back Nick Chubb going early and often, as well as getting Watson into a rhythm. 

One thing that will be a concern until it's proven otherwise is the Browns vertical passing game. While the Browns very well may have been waiting to bring out the explosive plays until the regular season, it has been a problem in the past few years for them it seems. 

Kevin Stefanski and the rest of the coaching staff needs to allow Watson to show his arm talent and push the ball downfield to guys like Moore, Amari Cooper, Donovan Peoples-Jones and Marquise Goodwin, among others.

Joe Burrow and the Bengals agreed on a massive contract extension on Thursday, making him the highest-paid NFL player of all time and no longer having a lingering issue for Cincinnati. The deal was a 5-year, $275 million contract which includes $219.01 million guaranteed. In comparison, Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson's contract is a 5-year, $230 million deal, fully guaranteed.

Lastly, new kicker Dustin Hopkins has been practicing at Cleveland Browns stadium this week in an attempt to get comfortable. It's crucial for Hopkins to start hot on Sunday and if not, there will be tension and some worried faces around the team.