Not much is expected from the Cleveland Browns in their season opener on Sunday. They are more than a touchdown underdog against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but they might have just enough good players to spring an upset.
Cleveland will need very good performances up and down its roster playing on the road against a team that won 13 games and the AFC South last season. But some will have to have a bigger impact than the rest of their teammates.
Two Browns players who could have a big game on Sunday are quarterback Deshaun Watson and linebacker Quincy Williams.
Head coach Todd Monken must harbor some belief that Watson can play somewhere close to the Pro Bowl level he once showed with the Houston Texans. He said he chose Watson to be the starting quarterback over Shedeur Sanders in part because he felt the veteran gave the Browns a better chance to win this challenging road game.
Monken did not go out of his way to mention that Watson has won seven of eight games against his former division rival. In those games, Watson has completed 63.8 percent of his passes for 1,661 yards with nine touchdown passes and just three interceptions.
The Jaguars had the No. 1-ranked rush defense in the NFL last year, but they were just 21st against the pass. With Monken likely doing everything in his power to make sure Watson succeeds, that could lead to success with rookie wide receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston making their NFL debuts.
On defense, Williams is returning to face his former team, where he first crossed paths with current Browns defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg. The combination of the two could lead to an explosive game by Williams, a free agent signee who has been somewhat overshadowed by the arrival of Jared Verse.
If Williams can help force turnovers and Watson can avoid them, the Browns could post the most shocking result of Week 1 around the NFL.
NEXT: Browns Make 2 Roster Moves Ahead Of Sunday's Game
