The Browns will have a chance to extend their Week 1 winning streak to three consecutive seasons for the first time since 1988-1990 when they host the Dallas Cowboys this Sunday at Huntington Bank Field.
After a long offseason, QB Deshaun Watson will take the field for the first time since November 2023 and the dominant Cleveland defense will have a chance to build off a strong showing last year.
Here are three keys to the game as Cleveland looks to start the season 1-0.
Keeping LB Micah Parsons at bay
Micah Parsons is listed as a linebacker on the Cowboys roster, but the defender can play virtually any position on the field.
A three-time finalist for Defensive Player of the Year, Parsons is one of the best pass rushers in the NFL and can wreak havoc in the backfield if his opponents don't properly protect the quarterback. His 40.5 sacks since his 2021 rookie season are the fourth-most in that timespan.
Parsons said on Wednesday that he is looking forward to displaying his versatility this season as he adjusts to newly hired defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer's scheme.
"I'm going to be moving around a lot," Parsons said. "It's going to be exciting, I'm going to say that. And I think I'll probably play every single person, and I think this is the first year where I could be in the 2i, I could be in the 3, I could be in the 4 (All various positions on the defensive line). I mean, it doesn't matter. I could be a linebacker, I could be in the slot, I could almost be the safety if you look at it that way."
So, how do the Browns stop someone as dynamic as Parsons?
Browns G Joel Bitonio compared it to a game of chess.
"He's kind of like a queen on a chessboard out there," Bitonio said. "He can move around, he can make any move he wants. He'll find matchups that he likes. He's not just playing outside. He lines up inside and off the ball."
The Browns have yet to announce who will start at either tackle spot, as Jack Conklin was listed as questionable for Sunday's game as he works back from a 2023 season-ending knee injury. His counterpart, Jedrick Wills Jr., was listed as out, opening the door for either Conklin or James Hudson III to start at left tackle, according to Stefanski.
Conklin, who has played on the right side for his entire career, played left tackle in college at a high level and has earned two All-Pro nods in the pros. Hudson III started seven games for Cleveland last season and has had a healthy offseason – full of meaningful reps against DE Myles Garrett and other Browns pass rushers.
Either or both tackles could play a major part in stopping Parsons from causing chaos on Sunday.
Containing WR CeeDee Lamb
After missing much of the preseason, Dallas star WR CeeDee Lamb returned to practice after signing a lucrative contract extension. Lamb said he would be a full go for Sunday's game, and that he was "ready to compete."
Lamb has been one of the NFL's best receivers since entering the league, making the Pro Bowl three times and leading all players in receptions last season with 135. A versatile threat, Lamb can line up in the slot or on the outside, meaning each member of the Browns secondary should see their fair share of the Cowboys receiver.
The matchup between what Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz called one of the best receivers in the NFL and the best corner group in the NFL will be, in Schwartz's words "awesome."
"Obviously, the go-to guy in their offense," Schwartz said. "This is NFL football, man. This is awesome."
The Browns defense tends to play man coverage at a high rate, but Lamb thrived against man coverage in 2023. No receiver had a better stat line with 49 catches, 810 yards, seven touchdowns against man coverage than Lamb last season.
Schwartz emphasized the importance in having his safeties help cover Lamb in case the speedy and shifty receiver beats the Browns corners on a route.
"Even if we're man, it's not always going to be no help," Schwartz said. "We're going to have a little different way, whether we're putting pressure on to try and help that way, or we have leverage help or over the top help and things like that. It's not going to be one person or a one-on-one most of the time, but it's a great matchup and it'll be exciting to watch."
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their first regular season game this week against the Dallas Cowboys at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Safety D'Anthony Bell (37) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) and the defensive line during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Wide receiver Amari Cooper (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Wide receiver Amari Cooper (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive tackle James Hudson III (66) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver David Bell (18) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver David Bell (18) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) and Defensive Line Coach Jacques Cesaire during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Tony Fields II (42) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) and Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Tony Fields II (42) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Assistant Offensive Line Coach Roy Istvan during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Tony Fields II (42) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Offensive tackle James Hudson III (66) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive guard Zak Zinter (70) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety D'Anthony Bell (37) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
The defensive line during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Defensive end Sam Kamara (92) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive tackle Lorenzo Thompson (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelon Darden (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Center Ethan Pocic (55) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Bubba Ventrone during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Tight end Cameron Latu (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Wide receiver Tulu Griffin (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
WR Jerry Jeudy establishing rapport with Watson
Watson will make his return to the football field for the first time since the Browns' thrilling Week 10 victory over the Ravens. While he will once again have wide receivers like Amari Cooper, Elijah Moore and Cedric Tillman, the Browns added a new weapon to their arsenal over the offseason, trading for WR Jerry Jeudy.
Jeudy shined during camp, proving to gel well with Watson despite missing some time early in camp. A strong route runner, the former Bronco could threaten to make explosive plays with Watson at the helm.
"I've built a lot of confidence just coming back from my injury and just getting on the same page with Deshaun and just being out there," Jeudy said.
One force standing in between the way of Jeudy and a successful Browns debut is Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs, who had 11 interceptions in 2021, the most in a single season since 1981.
The two are quite familiar with one another, as they were teammates at Alabama for three seasons.
"It's always fun going against Diggs," Jeudy said. "He's smart, got great ball skills, very competitive. We've been going against each other since college, so I know the stuff he's great at, he knows the stuff that I'm good at. So, it's going to be a fun matchup."
