5 pivotal matchups in the Browns season opener

2. David Njoku vs Jeremy Chinn

In all fairness, this matchup could be titled: Jeremy Chinn vs the entire Browns offense. Point blank, Chinn is just that good. As soon as you put on Carolina’s defensive tape, one thing becomes abundantly clear…the third-year safety is a game wrecker of the highest caliber. You don’t even need to be a seasoned student of the game, all you need to do is find the ball and you will find Chinn.

While Chinn will have a ton on his plate against the Browns formidable run game, that’s not where he could be the biggest thorn in Cleveland’s side. It’s no secret that while Jacoby Brissett is at the helm, there will be an even bigger emphasis on getting Cleveland’s tight ends involved in the passing game, namely David Njoku.

Njoku is a supremely athletic tight end with the capability of turning short passes into long gains. But if the Panthers use Chinn to mirror Njoku, it could be a long day for Brissett. Whether it’s a simple tight end bubble screen or a seem route, Chinn has the ability to make what should be a gimme play anything but.

The Browns need to be creative with their usage of Njoku to keep Chinn from nullifying one of their most dynamic playmakers. But there will be times when it just going to be up to Njoku to make a play over Chinn. If Njoku is able to do so, it will speak volumes about his progress and his upward trajectory.

Either way, Njoku better be hungry for competition because there are no free meals when Chinn is on the field.