3 things Cleveland Browns need to avoid in Week 1

No. 1: Relying on Brissett to win the game

Jacoby Brissett wasn’t brought to Cleveland to win a Super Bowl. He’s a game manager who was brought in to substitute for Deshaun Watson, who is currently sitting out on his suspension for the next 11 games. The journeyman quarterback has plenty of starts for three different teams and has been decent at each stop.

No, he doesn’t have a stellar starting record with a current 14-23 mark, but he brings knowledge and experience that will be valuable for the Browns as they move forward.

Cleveland has an impressive defense which will probably be better than last year. They also have an offense that can boast the best running back duo of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt — and they added a new wide receiver in Amari Cooper. In addition, they have a strong offensive line, including players Wyatt Teller, Joel Bitonio, and Jack Conklin.

Brissett doesn’t have to do a whole lot, especially in this first matchup of the season against the Panthers. If the Browns lose the game Sunday and we look back at the box score and Brissett has thrown the ball 40 times that’s not a winning formula.

Cleveland doesn’t have to be that creative to beat Carolina, but they do need to control the ball, not turn the ball over, and move the sticks. Handing the ball off to two reliable running backs in Chubb and Hunt and involving other players like Cooper and tight end David Njoku are enough to get this team a win.