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You've been waiting for it since last January Brownies fans, it's here, opening weekend on the 2024 NFL season. No sense in wasting time let's get you ready for this weekend's game!
Browns (11-6 2023) Vs. Cowboys (12-5 2023)
Kickoff - 4:25 EST FOX
Line - Browns -2.5 O/u 40.5
Series - Browns 18-14
Last Meeting - Browns 49-38 10/4/2020 in Dallas, TX
Is DeShaun Watson still elite?
Well, if you ask him the answer is "Of course. No doubt". Unfortunately the answer might not be that cut-and-dried. While Watson has certainly had games since his trade from Houston where he looked to still be a top QB- 2023 Tennessee, 2022 Baltimore and Washington - he's been a troubling combination of ineffective (sometimes), suspended (eleven games) and injured (most of 2023) playing only a combined twelve games in the last two seasons.
With expectations low this year, could that be the tonic that brings Watson back to his MVP caliber performances of 2020 and before? Maybe, certainly he's good with that - "It's fine with us. It's perfect," Watson said of lower expectations on Wednesday. "We're just going to go under the radar and work. That's all we can do."
Personally, I think this is the turnaround year for Watson. Given the issues he dealt with the last several years, some self-created, some not, I think he's finally getting his feet set under him again and with a more QB-friendly offense thanks to new Browns OC Ken Dorsey and a new receiver (Jerry Jeudy) he might make the Browns look good after giving him an unprecedented $230M guaranteed deal after trading a boatload of picks to Houston in exchange for Watson.
Bits and Baubles
Browns - Browns HC Kevin Stefanski will, assuming he completes the 2024 season, be the longest serving Browns head coach since Bill Belichick (1991-95). The Browns cleaned up at the NFL Awards in the off-season winning Coach of the Year (Stefanski), AP Defensive Player of the Year (Myles Garrett), AP Comeback Player of the Year (Joe Flacco), and AP Assistant Coach of the Year (Jim Schwartz). Amari Cooper and Jerry Jeudy never played on the same team at Alabama, but they certainly got to know one another and now Jeudy is thrilled to be lining up on the same team with him.
Cowboys - With CeeDee Lamb getting his big-time extension just over a week ago the Browns will be ready says DC Jim Schwartz “He wears No. 88, so we’ll be able to find him”. QB Dak Prescott is looking for his own extension coming off of his best season to date (36 TDs, 9 INTs, and 4,516 yards) and someone will give it to him if the Cowboys won't. Dallas HC Mike McCarthy is likely on the Hot Seat this season given how the season ended last year, cratering out in the playoffs.
Injury Report
Browns
Jedrick Wills Jr. - Knee - OUT
Michael Dunn - Undisclosed - OUT (NFI)
Nick Chubb - Knee - OUT (PUP)
Mike Hall Jr. - Exempt - OUT (Commissioner's list)
Nyheim Hines - Knee - OUT (NFI)
Jack Conklin - Knee - Questionable
Cowboys
CeeDee Lamb - Exempt - OUT (Commissioner's list)
John Stephen's Jr. - Hamstring - OUT
Fantasy Advice
CeeDee Lamb is listed as "OUT" currently but keep an eye on this in the pre-game, it sounds like he might have a similar situation as Ja'Marr Chase where he'll be on a snap count. If Lamb is out, look for Brandin Cooks, Jalen Tolbert and Jake Ferguson to get more than their usual share of targets.
Look guys, I know we're in Ohio and I know that Ezekiel Elliott is a legend here, but given the cliff he's fallen off the last two years with his performance (and don't @ me about his TDs in 2022), the only way he should be starting for you is if you A) are in a 16-team league or B) are prescient enough to know that the Cowboys will be inside the 3 yard line multiple times in a game. It might be too much to ask of the rest of the Cowboys RB room, but if I had to go with one it'd be Dalvin Cook.
Temper expectations for David Njoku, he's usually a slow starter but heats up as the season goes along, his best opening stat line was in 2020 against Baltimore with 3 catches for 50 yards and a TD.
Prediction
Cowboys 24 - 20
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