Rosters are set and the NFL season opener is just days away. Right off the bat, the league has scheduled “revenge games” for Week 1, including Russell Wilson playing his former team, the Seattle Seahawks, and Baker Mayfield facing the Cleveland Browns.
The Panthers versus Browns game is crucial for a number of reasons.
The first reason is what happened during the offseason, and the second reason is that a win for Carolina proves that their rebuild has amounted to something. Additionally, the NFL world will be able to see a Browns team without Mayfield at the helm.
Offseason Moves
During the offseason, the Browns had an idea to trade for a quarterback and move on from Mayfield. Eventually, the Browns, in stunning fashion, traded for quarterback Deshaun Watson. Watson will be ineligible for the season opener since he is serving an 11-game suspension. Instead, we’ll see a showdown between Mayfield and Jacoby Brissett. Understandably, the clash will be quite personal for Mayfield.
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Rebuild Complete?
The Panthers have been in a rebuild ever since their Super Bowl appearance in 2015. In one of the more high-profile Super Bowl clashes, Carolina fell to the Denver Broncos. Since then, the Panthers have been in a deep rebuild. If the Panthers get a win in Week 1, this may be the start of a new chapter, signifying that the rebuild has amounted to something good.
New Era
The Browns, currently sporting an infamous Week 1 losing streak, haven’t been without Mayfield since he was drafted in 2018. This new chapter will show whether the Browns can adapt to the post-Mayfield era with Jacoby Brissett taking the reins for the time being.
This Week 1 matchup is important for both sides. For Mayfield, it’s his revenge game. Carolina may be able to show results from a long rebuild, and the Browns can see if they can adapt in the post-Mayfield era of Browns history.
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