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Cleveland Browns: 5 matchups to watch for vs Kansas City

By Casey Kinnamon

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 17: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns drops back to pass against the defense of the Kansas City Chiefs during the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 17, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 17: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns drops back to pass against the defense of the Kansas City Chiefs during the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 17, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns defensive end Jadeveon Clowney chants along with fans during NFL football training camp, Friday, July 30, 2021, in Berea, Ohio. /

Matchup No. 4: Jadeveon Clowney vs Lucas Niang

The Browns performed an overhaul of their defensive line this past offseason. Generally speaking, it was not a very risky proposition considering they were building it around Myles Garrett. Andrew Berry added free agents like Malik Jackson and Takkarist McKinley to the fold and most assumed the rest would be filled in by draft picks. Then Berry went all in and signed former No. 1 overall draft pick, Jadeveon Clowney, to the team.

The Chiefs, however, tore their offensive line down to the studs and rebuilt it from scratch. After a run to the Super Bowl that saw Patrick Mahomes under pressure constantly, the Chiefs put all of their offseason efforts into bolstering the unit. Now Kansas City’s offensive line consists of five new starters, three of which have never started an NFL game.

Lucas Niang is the Chief that will be under the most pressure in the season opener. Niang technically is not a rookie but having opted out of his actual rookie season due to Covid-19, this is his first game as a professional.

It doesn’t get much more daunting than his first assignment. Hey kid, welcome to the league now go out there and block Jadeveon Clowney. I’m not sure if the statement ‘trial by fire’ even adequately describes Niang’s situation. If Clowney can dominate the matchup, then it will be a long afternoon for Mahomes, and an even longer film session for Niang on Monday.

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