CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Browns opened their season on Sunday in Kansas City. But there were 13 other games going on in the NFL on Sunday. There were storylines abound on Sunday, and plenty of them have an impact on the Browns.
Each week throughout the season, I’ll pick a handful of notable moments that happened, whether they are injuries. big performances or other newsworthy events, and analyze them and what they mean for the Browns.
Here are seven from Week 1.
1. Deshaun Watson might never play for Houston again
What happened: Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer reported on Sunday that the Texans have kept Deshaun Watson separate from the rest of his teammates even though he is working out with the team. Glazer speculated that Watson may never play another down for the Texans.
Watson is facing 22 active civil lawsuits, accusing him of sexual misconduct. The team is looking to trade him, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that there is a very high price tag on Watson. He has not been suspended, but it’s clear the Texans are trying to move on from Watson.
What it means for the Browns: The Browns host the Texans in Week 2. Houston had a surprising blowout win vs. the Jaguars at home. But playing in Cleveland after hosting Jacksonville is a massive jump in difficulty.
It also means Tyrod Taylor will get the start against his former team. It will be the first time he faces Baker Mayfield, three years after the two were together on the Browns.
2. Steelers’ defense rattles Josh Allen, Bills
What happened: One of the favorites to win the AFC ran into a roadblock at home when the Steelers stifled the Bills, 23-16.
Buffalo outgained Pittsburgh, 371-251. But Pittsburgh limited Buffalo to just one touchdown in four trips to the red zone.
The Steelers took control in the fourth quarter with a TD pass from Ben Roethlisberger to Diontae Johnson to take a 13-10 lead. On the next drive, they blocked a Buffalo punt and recovered it for another TD.
What it means for the Browns: It’s hard to truly gauge how good a team will be in Week 1. But we saw that the Bills can be slowed down on offense, especially against teams who are disruptive up front like the Steelers.
Pittsburgh also showed that it can still win even when its offense isn’t good. The Steelers were always going to be tough this year, but this was a surprising win for Pittsburgh. As for Buffalo, the Browns won’t see them unless they meet in the playoffs.
3. Kyler Murray torches the Titans
What happened: Tennessee entered the season as the favorite to win the AFC South again. But the Titans’ season is not off to a good start after they were blown out by the Cardinals, 38-13.
Kyler Murray was sensational, throwing four touchdown passes and running for one more. Chandler Jones was a force on the other end for Arizona with five sacks, four tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.
What it means for the Browns: Arizona comes to Cleveland in Week 6. The Cardinals are always a tough team to gauge. But when they are good, as they clearly were on Sunday, they are as tough as anyone to beat. They showed how good they can be in Tennessee.
4. Mac Jones’ debut spoiled by late fumble
What happened: Mac Jones made his NFL debut for the Patriots and played well, completing 29 of 39 passes for 281 yards and a touchdown.
But a late Damien Harris fumble recovered by Xavien Howard of the Dolphins spoiled the debut as Miami won, 17-16. New England scored just one touchdown in four trips into the red zone.
Tua Tagovailoa threw for 202 yards and a TD and rushed for another score.
What it means for the Browns: The Browns will get a look at Mac Jones in Week 10 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Jones should only get better as he goes along.
But these are both teams the Browns could end up playing in the playoffs. They are both a step behind the Bills in the AFC East. Miami has the defense to get into the playoffs and needs Tagovailoa to continue to grow for that to happen. As for the Patriots, everyone knows never to count out Bill Belichick.
5. Joe Burrow is back, and is 1-0
What happened: The Bengals blew a 14-point lead early in the third quarter against the Vikings. But in overtime, Joe Burrow converted a fourth and short, leading to a game-winning 33-yard field goal from Evan McPherson as the Bengals won, 27-24.
In his first game back after suffering a torn ACL against Washington last season, Burrow threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns. Joe Mixon added 127 yards and a touchdown.
Minnesota got 351 yards passing and two TDs from Kirk Cousins, but was hurt by 12 penalties for 116 yards.
What it means for the Browns: The Browns will see both teams this season. Burrow being back and looking good means this matchup could be just as tough as they were a year ago. He’s also got a new weapon in Ja’Marr Chase, who rebounded from a bad preseason with 101 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Cleveland will be in Minnesota in three weeks and will have to slow down a Vikings’ offense with plenty of weapons on both sides of the ball. They also sacked Burrow five times, so pass rush will be something to watch in that matchup.
6. Aaron Rodgers, Packers dominated vs. Saints
What happened: Sunday was a bad day at the office for Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Green Bay was dominated by the Saints, 38-3, and Rodgers was pulled for second-year quarterback Jordan Love.
Rodgers threw for 133 yards and two interceptions. On the other side of the ball, the Green Bay defense gave up five touchdown passes to Jameis Winston.
It was not the performance they wanted after a tumultuous offseason.
What it means for the Browns: Green Bay has plenty of time to get things corrected before the Packers host the Browns on Christmas. But this result is a troubling one.
The Packers could do nothing on either side of the football, even with Rodgers in the lineup. It’s one game, but given the drama that happened in Green Bay with Rodgers, it’ll be interesting to see if Sunday was an anomaly or if it becomes a trend.
7. Broncos beat the Giants, but lose Jerry Jeudy
What happened: Teddy Bridgewater was impressive in his Broncos debut, throwing for 264 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-13 win vs. the Giants. However, the Broncos lost Jerry Jeudy, who led the team with six receptions for 72 yards, to injury.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that Jeudy suffered a high ankle sprain in the game.
What it means for the Browns: Benjamin Allbright of KOA Radio in Denver tweeted that the projected timeline for Jeudy’s recovery is 6-8 weeks.
Six weeks from now is Week 7, which is when Denver travels to Cleveland for a Thursday night matchup on Oct. 21. The Broncos have a 4:25 p.m. game the Sunday prior at home vs. Las Vegas. So that’s a short turnaround for Jeudy and the Broncos if that timeline holds true.
If Jeudy can’t go, Denver loses a quality receiver against a Browns team that can score early and often against most teams.
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