Meet the Bengals' Enemy: 5 questions about the Browns for Week 1
Week 1 of the NFL regular season is rarely short on unexpected happenings. Look no further than what the Cincinnati Bengals have seen in three season-openers with Joe Burrow at quarterback. Randy Bullock missing a chip shot in 2020 due to two calf strains (allegedly), Dalvin Cook's close fumble that paved the way for a […]
Week 1 of the NFL regular season is rarely short on unexpected happenings. Look no further than what the Cincinnati Bengals have seen in three season-openers with Joe Burrow at quarterback. Randy Bullock missing a chip shot in 2020 due to two calf strains (allegedly), Dalvin Cook's close fumble that paved the way for a 1-0 start in 2021, and Burrow's four-pick game in 2022 that ended in two missed field goals at the end.
Nothing seems easy for these Bengals out the gate, and it's not likely to be much different on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. This is Burrow's first opener on the road and it's at a venue where he's yet to win.
What do this year's Browns look like? Without further ado, let's poke the brain of A to Z Sports Browns beat writer Brandon Little for the latest scoop on Cleveland.
JS: Cleveland's offense under Kevin Stefanski has given Cincinnati trouble in recent years, but there's been some buzz about it changing a bit to better fit Deshaun Watson. What should the Bengals expect in terms of scheme?
BL: Stefanski has been adamant that they’re still going to do a lot of the same stuff. Nick Chubb is still going to be a major factor but they’re going to continue to evolve. With Watson now having a full offseason under his belt, as well as training camp, expect to see more RPOs and designed quarterback runs. There certainly could be an uptick in how much the Browns pass the ball, another spot where Chubb should be more involved than he ever has been with Kareem Hunt gone.
JS: What's the confidence level for the Browns' interior defensive line at right now? Dalvin Tomlinson looks like a solid signing at nose tackle. Is a big jump expected there in terms of stopping the run?
BL: Cleveland overhauled the defensive interior outside of Jordan Elliott. Shelby Harris is going to be their plug in the middle and rookie Siaki Ika is in that same mold. Maurice Hurst proved to be healthy and impactful this preseason, so he should play a factor as well. The interior should be much improved at stopping the run.
JS: Trading away Cade York was an aggressive move no matter how you look at it. Does that almost encapsulate the vibe with the team in terms of a win-now mindset, or was he just a special case?
BL: When the Browns cut York, I believe it was because they knew they couldn’t lose close games due to missed kicks with this roster. Cleveland has legit expectations this year, as they believe they have a roster that can compete with anyone on the biggest stage and should be in the playoffs. York had his chances in the preseason to shake off the misses, but he never did so and they moved on.
JS: Which player do you see improving the most from the 2022 squad? Could be a starter or rotational piece.
BL: Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah should be in for his best season yet. He was solid as a rookie, then struggled some last year and injuries played a factor. Last season, offensive linemen were often getting upfield to the linebackers due to poor interior play. With improved defensive tackles, the Browns linebackers should be able to take a big jump in all phases.
JS: Let's get a score prediction in. Who you got to win this game?
BL: I have Cincinnati winning this one, as I think the two teams will inevitably split their two games this season. Joe Burrow will pick up his second win against the Browns and continue to show why the Bengals are going to have to back up the Brinks truck. I’ll call it a close one at 31-27.
3 Bengals’ players that will cause issues for the Browns
Cleveland will have their hands full with these three Bengals’ players.
Featured image via © Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
