The Cleveland Browns are catching a break as the Pittsburgh Steelers willb e without running back Le’Veon Bell for Sunday’s season opener at FirstEnergy Stadium.Bell and the Steelers are in a protracted contract dispute and Bell did not report in time to catch a ride on the team bus
www.clevelandbrownsteamonline.com , according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter:A similar situation almost played out last season, but Bell reported in time to play in the Week 1 game. The Browns shut him down, however, holding Bell to just 32 yards on 10 carries. That hasn’t always been the case as in five previous games against the Browns, Bell averaged 4.6 yards per carry while rushing for 507 yards and three touchdowns.In Bell’s place, the Browns will face second-year running back James Conner, who ran four times for 11 yards in the last year’s Week 1 matchup.Even though Bell will not be on the field, Browns defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is not taking anything for granted
Cleveland Browns T-Shirt , according to clevelandbrowns.com:With Sunday’s weather forecast calling for rain and high winds, which should lend itself to a run-dominated game plan, not having to face Bell certainly works in the Browns favor. NEW YORK JETS (1-1) at CLEVELAND (0-1-1)Thursday 8:20 p.m. EDT, NFL NetworkOPENING LINE — Browns by 3RECORD VS. SPREAD — Jets 1-1, Browns 2-0SERIES RECORD — Browns lead 13-12LAST MEETING — Jets beat Browns 17-14, Oct. 8, 2017LAST WEEK — Jets lost to Dolphins 20-12; Browns lost to Saints 21-18AP PRO32 RANKING — Jets No. 21, Browns No. 26JETS OFFENSE — OVERALL (18)
Cleveland Browns Hats , RUSH (16), PASS (15)JETS DEFENSE — OVERALL (5), RUSH (11), PASS (18)BROWNS OFFENSE — OVERALL (23), RUSH (5), PASS (27).BROWNS DEFENSE — OVERALL (20), RUSH (20), PASS (20).STREAKS
Cleveland Browns Hoodie , STATS AND NOTES — Teams which kicked off prime-time football meet again on national TV. Jets and Browns played first Monday night game in 1970, 31-21 win for Cleveland. ... Jets have won past five meetings. ... Jets rookie QB Sam Darnold gets to show Browns what they passed up in draft. Cleveland decided not to pick Darnold No. 1 overall and instead selected Baker Mayfield, currently backing up Tyrod Taylor. ... Darnold, 21, became youngest opening weekend QB since league merger in 1970 on Sept. 10 and threw two TDs against Detroit. ... Darnold became youngest QB to throw for 300 yards (334) last week vs. Miami. ... Jets playing third game in 11 days. ... New York has been strong in third quarters, scoring on opening drives and outscoring opponents 37-7. ... Jets have four former Browns, including starting RB Isaiah Crowell, WR Terrelle Pryor
Customized Cleveland Browns Jerseys , CB Buster Skrine and QB Josh McCown, who started 2015 season opener for Browns vs. Jets. ... Jets had four sacks last week. .. Browns get only moment in national spotlight this season with first prime-time home game since 2015. ... Cleveland looks to end 19-game winless streak and get first victory since Dec. 24, 2016. ... Browns have been close in first two games, but penalties and special teams blunders have been costly. ... Browns cut K Zane Gonzalez after he missed two field-goal tries and two extra points last week in New Orleans. ... Rookie K Greg Joseph signed following tryout and will make NFL debut. He was with Miami in training camp. ... Taylor bounced back from rocky opener and completed 22 of 30 passes last week for 246 yards. ... Taylor went 3-2 as starter for Buffalo vs. Jets. He passed for season-high 285 yards against New York last season but was sacked seven times. ... Browns WR Jarvis Landry has caught at least five passes in 19 straight games. ... Browns rookie WR Antonio Callaway had gorgeous 47-yard TD catch in fourth quarter last week. His role has expanded with Josh Gordon's trade. ... Browns defense has forced league-high eight takeaways in two games after getting league-low 13 all last season. Fantasy tip: Browns could make extra effort to get ball to RB Duke Johnson, who has just 11 touches after two games. Johnson has most yards receiving (1,741) through three seasons since any back since 1999.