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Cleveland Browns season starts on road vs. Carolina Panthers; home opener Week 2 vs. Jets

nate ulrich, akron beacon journal
·4 min read
2

Whether Deshaun Watson plays when the Browns begin the 2022 season remains to be seen, but the quarterback will be a hot topic in Week 1 either way.

The Browns will open the 2022 regular season at 1 p.m. Sept. 11 on the road against the Carolina Panthers, one of four finalists in the Watson sweepstakes that ended with the Browns trading with the Houston Texans for the three-time Pro Bowl selection on March 18.

In Week 2, the Browns will face the New York Jets at 1 p.m. Sept. 18 in the home opener at FirstEnergy Stadium.

NFL teams announced their home openers at 6 p.m. Thursday ahead of the full schedule release at 8 p.m.

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Browns QB Deshaun Watson is still facing multiple lawsuits in Texas.
Browns QB Deshaun Watson is still facing multiple lawsuits in Texas.

Baker Mayfield to Carolina Panthers rumors add intrigue to Week 1 game

Of course, the opener between the Browns and Panthers would become significantly spicier if Cleveland were to trade quarterback Baker Mayfield to Carolina, which has question marks at the sport's most important position after falling short in its bid for Watson.

The Browns and Panthers engaged in trade talks about Mayfield during the April 28-30 NFL Draft, but those discussions fizzled with Cleveland stopping short of agreeing to pay enough of Mayfield's $18.858 guaranteed salary for next season to secure a deal.

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Meanwhile, Watson could miss the Week 1 and 2 games, both of which will be televised by CBS, if the NFL decides to suspend him under its personal conduct policy.

Watson is facing 22 active civil lawsuits from women accusing him of sexual misconduct or sexual assault during massage appointments. Two Texas grand juries combined in March to decline to indict Watson on 10 criminal complaints, but the league is still conducting its own investigation.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addresses reporters at the conclusion of the Annual Meetings at The Breakers in Palm Beach on Tuesday.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addresses reporters at the conclusion of the Annual Meetings at The Breakers in Palm Beach on Tuesday.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has repeatedly said this offseason there is no time frame on when former U.S. District Court Judge Sue Robinson, a disciplinary officer jointly appointed by the league and NFL Players Association, will render a decision on a suspension.

Attorneys for Watson and the plaintiffs have agreed to avoid trial from Aug. 1 to March 1, meaning the civil lawsuits could remain unresolved until 2023 at the earliest, unless settlements are reached before then. In Watson's March 25 introductory news conference with the Browns, he denied all wrongdoing and said he did not intend to settle the cases because he wants to clear his name.

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Despite Watson's legal woes, the Browns acquired him by sending six draft picks, including three first-round selections, to the Texans and signing the QB to a five-year contract worth an NFL-record $230 million fully guaranteed.

Coming off a disappointing record of 8-9 last season, the Browns signed quarterback Jacoby Brissett to start in the event Watson is unavailable.

At least on paper, facing the Panthers and Jets gives the Browns a golden opportunity to start the season with back-to-back wins, even if Watson is out.

QB Sam Darnold went 4-7 as the starter in 2021, his first season with the Panthers.
QB Sam Darnold went 4-7 as the starter in 2021, his first season with the Panthers.

The Panthers went 5-12 last season and the Jets 4-13. The only other opponent on the Browns' 2022 schedule that had five or fewer wins last season is the Texans, who went 4-13.

Sam Darnold is positioned to start for the Panthers, though they drafted fellow quarterback Matt Corral in the third round (No. 94 overall) on April 29, and Mayfield remains on the trading block. Darnold is 17-32 as an NFL starter. Zach Wilson is the Jets' No. 1 QB coming off a 3-10 record as a rookie starter.

Still, the Browns have plenty of demons to exorcise due to their own history in Week 1. They are 1-21-1 in openers since their rebirth in 1999 and haven't been victorious in one since 2004.

The Browns are also 5-17-1 in home openers during the expansion era, and they haven't been 2-0 since 1993, when they won their first three games.

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However, the Browns have won their past two home openers, making them 2-0 in those games with coach Kevin Stefanski. Cleveland will begin a season on the road for the third consecutive year.

Based on their opponents' records from last season, the Browns are tied with the Jets for the 17th-toughest schedule this year. Their opponents went a combined 142-145-2 in 2021 for a winning percentage of .495.

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski (right) addresses Deshaun Watson's off-the-field baggage during his introductory press conference.
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski (right) addresses Deshaun Watson's off-the-field baggage during his introductory press conference.

Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns 2022 schedule starts on road vs. Carolina Panthers