Browns at Eagles: Game preview, odds, prediction
By Matt Couden
The Cleveland Browns visit the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field for a 2016 NFL Week 1 matchup.
On Sunday, Sept. 11, the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles will meet up at Lincoln Financial. The Browns have added former Redskins No. 1 pick Robert Griffin III to their lineup this year, hoping for a magical season. The Eagles seemed to have an experienced quarterback in place to start the season. However, a blockbuster trade with the Vikings has shaken things up.
The Eagles were contenders last season in the NFC East. However, it appears it will be a tougher campaign this year. The team traded starting quarterback Sam Bradford about a week ahead of this matchup, which leaves the door open for Cleveland to grab a road win.
Philadelphia will certainly have a tough season ahead. While they have some great backs, their quarterback situation will be shaky. The consensus had been that Chase Daniel would start in this game. However, there is also talk that Daniel will start if rookie Carson Wentz isn’t healthy yet.
So that could mean Wentz gets the start. If so, it would put an inexperienced QB on the field for the opening game. Most rookie quarterbacks in recent years have experienced opening game jitters when playing in that first contest. The experience factor would certainly go to a guy who has been in the league several years now and looked comfortable in the preseason.
Neither of these teams made the postseason for the 2015-16 season and it seems that will be the case again when this season has ended. The Browns will be trying to live up to high expectations after their city’s pro basketball team captured the championship.
So while neither team looks great per se in this matchup, the Browns seem like the way to go. With RG3 as their starting quarterback, it could be his season for redemption. Griffin impressed in the preseason and has some good receivers to toss to, while the Eagles will be searching for answers and trying to get their starting QB up to speed.
Pick: Cleveland +4