A 4-down look at the Browns, NFL season
- col-aaron-dorksen
- September 4, 2024
- 538
A few thoughts from the week in sports …
No professional sports league draws more fans or knows how to market itself better than the National Football League.
Football has the most participants of any sport at both the high school and college levels because it’s the most popular and requires big rosters.
Bottom line is the vast majority of us love American football, and it’s good to have it back in full swing. With the high schools and colleges underway, the NFL is set to kick off its 2024 season in typical grand fashion.
The NFL has an awesome stretch of games on its opening weekend, starting with Ravens at Chiefs on Thursday, Sept. 5; Packers vs. Eagles in Brazil on Friday, Sept. 6; 13 games on Sunday, Sept. 8; and finally, Jets at 49ers on Monday, Sept. 9.
Most fans in this area will focus their attention on the Browns’ opener vs. the Cowboys in Cleveland on Sept. 8 at 4:25 p.m.
As always, I’m looking forward to watching NFL action live on TV, hopefully getting to a few games at what’s now Huntington Bank Field and seeing highlights of what I missed.
Here is my “Four Downs” look at the biggest NFL story lines I’m watching for in 2024:
First down
Apprehension might be the best word to describe Browns’ fans’ moods entering this 2024 campaign, and it’s because of the uncertainty surrounding quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Watson is the whole key to the Browns’ success. In the modern NFL, the quarterback has more responsibilities than ever, and the rules are in place to favor offenses. A team simply has to have a productive quarterback.
Watson has played just 12 games since joining the Browns in 2022. He missed 11 games in his first year due to a suspension, and he played in just six contests last year before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury that required surgery.
This is a make-or-break season for Watson. The fans are not happy with how he has played, and Watson can’t be pleased.
Despite the Browns giving up a boatload of draft picks and a Brinks truck-size load of cash to bring Watson over in a blockbuster trade with the Texans in March 2022, the quarterback has thrown for only 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions with the Browns.
Joe Flacco literally came off his couch and played a lot better, leading the Browns to an 11-6 final record and the playoffs. Hopefully, Watson studied film to learn how Flacco utilized wide receiver Amari Cooper and tight end David “Chief” Njoku.
Other than a few brief glimpses of standout play, Watson has been nowhere near the three-time Pro Bowler he was for Houston.
Browns fans I’ve talked to are as guarded as I’ve ever witnessed entering a season, largely because they lack confidence in Watson.
First, will he play well? Secondly, will he stay healthy?
Adding to the anxiety of fans, Watson complained of a sore shoulder in training camp and didn’t play in a single preseason game. Reports coming out of Cleveland this week stressed the Browns believe Watson is in fact healthy heading into the season. As for the arm soreness, he had thrown in 15-of-16 practices, and some stiffness was to be expected coming off the surgery.
Is Watson really healthy and ready to go?
I’ll believe it when I see it.
Second down
A strong running game would take some pressure off Watson and bode well in the rugged AFC North.
However, All-Pro running back Nick Chubb will be out a minimum of four games coming off a gruesome knee injury suffered against the Steelers last year. That leaves a very average at best Browns’ running back core.
Chubb hurt his knee in the second quarter last Sept. 18 in a loss to Pittsburgh, which led to surgery to two different surgeries.
Any production from Chubb will be a true blessing and extremely well-deserved for him, considering how serious the knee injury was.
The Browns have had a rash of bad luck with injuries to their offensive lineman in recent seasons, but I’m optimistic hearing the group looks good coming out of camp.
Cleveland also needs to keep its standout place-kicker Dustin Hopkins healthy. No more trying to tackle people, Dustin, unless a playoff game is on the line!
Third down
The Browns’ defense is the strength of this team, led by 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett. If the Browns can even get average offensive play early on in the season, they can win every time out.
The Browns allowed the fewest yards in the NFL last year while recording the sixth most sacks.
Fourth down
There are great story lines to follow throughout the NFL, and you have to start with the Kansas City Chiefs and quarterback Patrick Mahomes chasing their third straight Super Bowl title. The Chiefs are once again the favorite, according to www.vegasinsider.com, followed by the 49ers, Ravens, Eagles and Lions. Sadly, the Browns are 17th on the list.
Some of the other things I’m watching are quarterbacks who will try to prove themselves, such as the Jets’ Aaron Rodgers rebounding after lasting only four plays before suffering a torn Achilles tendon in 2023, first overall draft pick Caleb Williams taking over for the Bears, and Russell Wilson and Justin Fields trying to jump-start their careers in Pittsburgh.
The AFC North also has standout quarterbacks in the Bengals’ Joe Burrow and Ravens’ Lamar Jackson. It will be interesting to follow Browns’ castoff Baker Mayfield with the Buccaneers again, along with young signal callers like the Texans’ CJ Stroud, Packers’ Jordan Love, Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence and Panthers’ Bryce Young.
Parting shot
Best wishes to Jimmy Donovan, who announced his retirement as the Browns’ radio play-by-play man after 25 seasons in order to focus all of his energy on battling leukemia.
Donovan was a pro’s pro on the mic and a first-class person as well. Thanks for the memories and prayers for your fight against cancer.
Aaron Dorksen can be emailed at aarondorksen24@gmail.com.