The Browns take on the New York Giants on Sunday in their first game at home since traveling to Jacksonville, where they picked up their first win of the season.
The Giants and Browns have not played since 2020, and both teams' rosters have changed dramatically since their last matchup.
One addition in particular that the Giants made over the offseason has caught the attention of the Browns. With , the Giants selected WR Malik Nabers, who had a dominant college career finishing with over 1,500 receiving yards and 14 receiving touchdowns in his final season at LSU.
Nabers has already made an impact in his first two games as a pro, generating the second-most targets in the NFL behind Rams WR Cooper Kupp.
"He's a great player," CB Denzel Ward said of Nabers. "Gets a lot of targets on their team, good after the catch, got good hands."
When Nabers gets the ball in his hands, he can be explosive, posting a +15 yards after catch over expected – the 11th highest rate among NFL receivers. According to Next Gen Stats, Nabers' receiving expected points added per game of +6.3 is the third highest in the NFL, meaning when Nabers gets the ball, the chances of his offense finding the end zone skyrocket.
Nabers' elite speed – clocking a 4.35 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine – allows him to blow by cornerbacks and evade would-be tacklers on his way to gaining extra yards.
"He's very, very fast. He's explosive," head coach Kevin Stefanski said of the rookie receiver. "There's a reason he was drafted where he was drafted. He's a very, very, very good young player."
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their game this week against the New York Giants at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Offensive tackle James Hudson III (66) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
`51 during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Running back Gary Brightwell (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Cornerback Tony Brown (38) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson (72) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson (72) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Running back Gary Brightwell (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Long snapper Charley Hughlett (47) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Offensive tackle Lorenzo Thompson (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Tight end Jordan Akins (88) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Linebacker Michael Barrett (48) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Defensive tackle Siaki Ika (62) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
One thing to look for will be how often Nabers goes into motion. Of his 14 routes in motion, he has caught six of eight targets for 115 yards – the most in the NFL per Next Gen Stats.
The primary beneficiary of Naber's arrival in New York is QB Daniel Jones, who has connected well with the young receiver throughout the season. Even with a deep threat in Nabers, Jones has struggled on the deep ball, failing to complete each of his four passing attempts over 20 air yards this season.
On the season, Jones has a -11.6 completion percentage over expected, the second-lowest When pressured, his CPOE drops to -16.5 percent, and the former Duke quarterback has been sacked 23 percent of the time when facing pressure.
However, despite having reconstructive knee surgery, Jones is a threat on the ground. Jones has 47 rushing yards on 11 attempts so far this season, the 13th-most rushing yards by a quarterback this season.
When a play breaks down, Jones is quick to use his feet to pick up the yards necessary to keep a drive alive. Against Minnesota in Week 1, the Giants faced third-and-7 in the red zone. After scanning his options without finding an open receiver, Jones stormed down field and drove through contact to pick up a first down.
His 2.4 yards after contact per attempt is the seventh highest among starting quarterbacks
"He's a very, very dangerous runner," Stefanski said. "We've all seen it over the course of time that he is a threat with the ball in his hands, and they're utilizing him. Utilized him in this last game. It's a big part of what he does, but he can also make every throw."
WR Jerry Jeudy has displayed his pass-catching abilities through the first two games of the season, as he's totaled eight receptions for 98 receiving yards and one touchdown.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during a NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns on September 8, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns lost 17-33.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars on September 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium. The Browns won 18-13.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during a NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns on September 8, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns lost 17-33.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars on September 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium. The Browns won 18-13.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars on September 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium. The Browns won 18-13.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy's pads before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars on September 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium. The Browns won 18-13.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during a NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns on September 8, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns lost 17-33.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars on September 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium. The Browns won 18-13.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars on September 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium. The Browns won 18-13.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) before a NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns on September 8, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns lost 17-33.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars on September 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium. The Browns won 18-13.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars on September 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium. The Browns won 18-13.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) before a NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns on September 8, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns lost 17-33.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars on September 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium. The Browns won 18-13.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy's and Quarterback Deshaun Watson's pads before a NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns on September 8, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns lost 17-33.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) before a NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns on September 8, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns lost 17-33.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) and Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during a NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns on September 8, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns lost 17-33.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) after a NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns on September 8, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns lost 17-33.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during a NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns on September 8, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns lost 17-33.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) after a NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns on September 8, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns lost 17-33.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during a NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns on September 8, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns lost 17-33.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during a NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns on September 8, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns lost 17-33.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during a NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns on September 8, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns lost 17-33.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) after a NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns on September 8, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns lost 17-33.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during a NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns on September 8, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns lost 17-33.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) before a NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns on September 8, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns lost 17-33.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) before a NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns on September 8, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns lost 17-33.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) before a NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns on September 8, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns lost 17-33.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) before a NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns on September 8, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns lost 17-33.
Another weapon for Jones and the Giants offense is RB Devin Singletary, who is in his first season in New York.
Singletary put together a strong performance in Week 2, posting 95 rushing yards and a touchdown. Four of his 16 attempts went for over 10 yards and Singletary was able to fight through tacklers, with 60 of his rushing yards coming after contact.
The six-year running back was in Houston last season but reunited with head coach Brian Daboll in New York after the two spent three seasons together in Buffalo.
For the first time in his three years as Giants head coach, Brian Daboll has been calling the offense in 2024. Daboll's offensive mastery has been the backbone of his success in the NFL.
After working two seasons as a defensive assistant in New England, Daboll was the Patriot's wide receivers coach from 2002-2006 before a stint with the Jets as a quarterbacks coach. He then made stops in Cleveland, Miami and Kansas City as an offensive coordinator before returning to New England to serve as the tight ends coach for four seasons.
After a year as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Alabama, Daboll went to Buffalo to take over as OC, guiding QB Josh Allen through his first four seasons as a pro.
During his time in the NFL, Daboll has accumulated five Super Bowl rings, all with New England. He also won the 2017 National Championship with Alabama.
"I have a ton of respect for Coach Daboll and his entire coaching staff, so we got to play our best football," Stefanski said. "And that's really what we're focused on is trying to play one game better. Play one game better than last week and incrementally have improvements throughout the season."
