CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - The Browns are putting last year’s three-win season behind them and are ready to set expectations and establish their identity right out of the gate in week one against the Bengals.
With 18-year veteran Joe Flacco under center, Cleveland players said they don’t care about the critics who are picking them as one of the worst teams in the NFL. They believe this game is theirs to win.
“Honestly, I don’t really think it matters whether someone ranks us 32 or ranks us number one,” said Browns cornerback Denzel Ward. “We’re going out there to be the best team that day. That’s the goal and that’s the focus. You can’t look at all that outside noise.”
“If we can go out there and live up to the expectations we’ve set for ourselves, then I think everything else will fall into place,” said quarterback Joe Flacco. “It’s about what we can do to play the type of game we want to play.”
Flacco, no stranger to the Browns, said he physically feels better at 40-years-old in his second stint in Cleveland, now with a full offseason under his belt. The Browns hope that pays off as the offense faces an unknown Bengals defense under new defensive coordinator Al Gordon.
“You’ve got to gather as much info as you can,” said Flacco. “Then you’ve got to trust your process and go out there and do what you do. I’m sure they’re going to surprise us with some things, and you’ve got to trust your fundamentals and operate as such.”
“There’s not really that much film, like you said, to watch on the Cincinnati Bengals defense,” added receiver Jerry Jeudy. “You just study the little bit of preseason film, combine it with some from last year, and go from there.”
The Browns and Bengals kick off at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Huntington Bank Field.
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