Why this Browns-Bengals season-opener is bigger than normal

Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns and NFL analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.

Four downs on Browns (0-0) v. Cincinnati Bengals (0-0)

First down: Bigger than most.

Season openers are big because they set the tone for the first month of a season. This one is bigger than normal for both teams for different reasons. The Bengals are trying to avert another slow start, which have become notorious and detrimental under coach Zac Taylor. His 1-5 record in Game 1 is the worst among NFL coaches with at least three years on the job and he has gone 0-2 in each of the past three seasons. The Bengals, in fact, make note of their early-season demise in their weekly game release. “A point of emphasis for the Bengals over the past six months has been to create an environment that will lead to success early in the regular season.” Changes included restructuring training camp with early practices and giving starters more play time in preseason games. As for the Browns, they are trying to avoid starting a six-game schedule gauntlet on the wrong note. The Browns are 5 ½-point underdogs to the Bengals on their home field. That might be the shortest pointspread in their first six games. Following the Bengals are games at Baltimore, home against Green Bay, at Detroit, at London against Minnesota, and at Pittsburgh.

Second down: A pair of Joes.

Both starting quarterbacks named Joe have something to prove. For Joe Burrow, it’s that he can beat the Browns, who have been his nemesis in five seasons, and avoid another 0-1 start with his team. Burrow is 3-5 against the Browns. All of his per-game averages in games against the Browns are worse than his career numbers – 64.6% completions against the Browns v. 68.6% over his career, 248.8 yards v. 275.3, 93.0 passer rating v. 101.2, 8.2% sack percentage v. 7.1%. For Joe Flacco, he’s trying to prove that life in the NFL can begin again at age 40. Flacco hasn’t had more than 10 starts in a season since 2017. Over the last seven years, he’s played for five different teams, including the Browns twice, and has a record of 13-24. This week in Cincinnati, Burrow said of Flacco, “He's one of the more natural throwers of the football that I’ve ever seen. He can spin it with the best of them. He’s got one of the strongest arms of all time.”

Third down: The engine that roars.

The Browns have sacked Burrow 27 times for 207 yards in their eight meetings. Myles Garrett has sacked him eight times and has generally terrorized whatever left tackle the Bengals have lined up in front of him. But never in that time have the Browns had a pair of penetrating defensive tackles to assist Garrett like they have now in veteran Maliek Collins and rookie Mason Graham. Those two will line up over a pair of new guards on the Bengals’ offensive line – rookie Dylan Fairchild at left guard and veteran journeyman Lucas Patrick at right guard. Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz believes the play of his new tackles will dictate the overall defense’s success. “We have to win up front, and that’s a big part of it,” Schwartz said of the tackles. “Guys like Mason Graham, we brought in here to give us interior rush … brought in guys like Maliek Collins to give us interior rush. You know, those are big things. We know [the Bengals] can help on the outside part of the field with guys like Myles. They can chip, they can leave tight ends in the protection. But our ability to win inside in this game is going to go a long way to coming out with a win, because the ball comes out so fast, and the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, and those guys are closer to the play. So, those guys need to step up for us. They need to win those matchups. And when we play our best, our D-line leads us there as our engine.”

Fourth down: A bolder Ward?

Some of Denzel Ward’s best games have come against the Bengals. Both of his Pick 6’s in his career came against them, including a 99-yard interception return in a 2021 meeting. In that game, Ward led a defense that smothered and intimidated Ja’Marr Chase in his rookie-of-the-year season. Chase was involved in all three Browns takeaways – two interceptions and a fumble. Chase also dropped two Burrow passes that could’ve been touchdowns. This summer, Ward has worked hard to correct a recent problem of dropping interceptions. He also has spoken more boldly in interviews. This week, Ward said, “I definitely want all the plays and throws to come my way. I like making plays on the ball and being a factor in a game. Hopefully they’ll target me a lot. So go send Joe Burrow some texts and tell him to throw at me. I’m going to enjoy it.” In Cincinnati, Chase responded, “If I’m being honest, that’s the first time I’ve ever heard him say anything like that. He’s gonna get his opportunities. He knows what’s going on. Pretty sure he’ll be ready. First time he ever said anything to me in a game was last year and I turned around and said, ‘What the hell?’ I don’t remember him saying nothing.”

The pick: Browns 24, Bengals 13.

My record: 12-5 in 2024.