The Browns and Jaguars will both be looking for their first wins of the 2024 NFL season on Sunday as Cleveland travels to Jacksonville for their first road game of the season.
The two teams faced off last season in Week 14, with the Browns coming away with a 31-27 win. Jacksonville QB Trevor Lawrence is among the many weapons the Browns defense has keyed in on in preparation for Jacksonville. The former first-overall pick has thrown for at least 21 touchdowns in each of his last two seasons and, with new weapons in WR Brian Thomas Jr. and WR Gabe Davis, the Jacksonville offense has the tools necessary to make explosive plays.
Creating pressure on QB Trevor Lawrence
The Browns defense finished in the top seven in both quarterback pressures and sacks in 2023, and return several of last year's stars including reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett.
Pressuring Lawrence will be crucial in Sunday's matchup as the Browns look to earn their first win of the season. Lawrence was pressured eight times last week by the Miami defense, resulting in three sacks, two incompletions and one touchdown pass.
However, even when facing oncoming defenders, Garrett said Lawrence remains composed in the pocket.
"He brings confidence," Garrett said. "He's always pretty calm when he's looking downfield, it's not like he's feeling the pressure or the blitzes. He's not looking over his shoulder, he's not tap dancing. He's looking down the field, going through his progressions, trying to make that play – and he's only gotten more confident as the years have gone."
Lawrence has recorded over 4,000 passing yards in each of his past two seasons and is a threat on the ground, recording nearly 1,000 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns between his three full seasons in the NFL.
"He's a rapidly maturing young quarterback; very, very talented, both with his legs and with his arm," defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said. "Makes quick decisions and you can really see his transformation as a young player to now a veteran player."
So, how can the Browns shake Lawrence's confidence?
"Hit him," Garrett said. "Multiple times."
Avoiding costly penalties
With seven offensive penalties, two on defense and two on special teams, the Browns lost much-needed momentum at times throughout their loss to the Cowboys in Week 1.
The Browns were flagged four times for illegal formation, although the Cowboys declined one of the penalties. Over the offseason, the NFL instructed officials to be stricter on the rules behind a 'legal formation,' which have not changed. Teams were notified that of the league's increased interest in calling illegal formation penalties.
A legal formation is met when a team has seven or more players on the line of scrimmage with eligible receivers on both ends of the offensive line.
Browns G Joel Bitonio said that the team has made a point on correcting their pre-snap issues.
"That was frustrating, because you don't want to put yourself behind the chains, especially with a team like Dallas," Bitonio said. "And those are correctable – snap count, alignment issues, all types of things like that, formations, you can fix those things and that's been a huge emphasis."
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their game this week against the Jacksonville Jaguars at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 12, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Tight end Jordan Akins (88) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 12, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 12, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Wide receiver David Bell (18) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 12, 2024.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Linebacker Khaleke Hudson (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 12, 2024.
Linebacker Luji Vilain (98) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 12, 2024.
Defensive tackle Siaki Ika (62) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Cornerback Mike Ford Jr. (31) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Wide receiver David Bell (18) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Director of Strength and Conditioning Larry Jackson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 12, 2024.
Tight end Cameron Latu (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Cornerback Mike Ford Jr. (31) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 12, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) and Assistant Special Teams Coach Stephen Bravo-Brown during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Pass Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach Chad O'Shea during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Tight end Cameron Latu (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Offensive Line Coach Andy Dickerson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Linebacker Luji Vilain (98) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Cornerback Mike Ford Jr. (31) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Defensive end Sam Kamara (92) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Kadarius Toney (87) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Amari Cooper (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Wide receiver David Bell (18) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Bubba Ventrone during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Cornerback Mike Ford Jr. (31) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Wide receiver David Bell (18) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 12, 2024.
Assistant Special Teams Coach Stephen Bravo-Brown, during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 12, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Offensive guard Zak Zinter (70) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Wide receiver Amari Cooper (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Tight end Geoff Swaim (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Center Ethan Pocic (55) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Cornerback Mike Ford Jr. (31) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Eliminating pre-snap penalties will go a long way in the Browns' efforts to win on the road. The Jaguars will play their first home game of the season on Sunday, and the Browns are preparing for a boisterous Jacksonville crowd.
"We're going to have some silent count," Bitonio said. "It's their home opener so they're going to be loud and they're going to be anxious, and they have a good defense. We just have to focus on it. Every play it's a new play and we can't put ourselves behind the chains like that."
Eliminating big plays on special teams
After an offseason full of discussion about the league's new dynamic kickoff, it was a punt return that hurt the Browns the most on Sunday.
After their first drive of the second half, the Browns punted from their own end zone. Cowboys WR Kavontae Turpin returned the punt 60 yards for a touchdown, extending the Cowboys' lead to 24 points.
"There's a lot of bad football in that play," special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone said. "We were not obviously up to our standards. So, gotta have a better punt with location and hang time. The leverage needs to be better. The effort was poor, and it was addressed, and we will move forward and keep coaching it up."
On kickoff, the Browns kicked touchbacks on three of their four total attempts. K Dustin Hopkins' first kickoff was returned by Turpin for 34 yards.
"I feel like every kick is relative to the situation in the game, who you're going against, your personnel, all that stuff," Ventrone said when asked about the Browns' kickoff strategy.
