A fresh start: Browns look to prove doubters wrong, shock world, beginning with opener vs. Bengals

The outside expectations for the season are minimal. The opener is no different.The Browns are 5½-point underdogs today at home vs. the Cincinnati Bengals. That could be the smallest spread the Browns face over the brutal first six weeks — from the same oddsmakers who set their season win total over/under at 4.5 or 5.5.Browns-Bengals Preview: 3 things to watch, 3 key numbers, the prediction"Well, we got to play games, right?" said left guard Joel Bitonio, who chose to return rather than retire. "We're 0-0, like every other team right now and we have a chance to try and go 1-0 this week."I know the work we put in, I know the guys and the players we have on our team and we're going to go out there and compete and luckily Week 0, Week 1 power rankings don't really matter. So we'll be all right I think."The Browns understand the negativity from those not in brown and orange. Cleveland went 3-14 last season, has serious questions on offense and 12 rookies on the 53-man roster.The offseason and preseason were dedicated to making sure 2024 doesn't happen again. The Browns have professed a renewed commitment and a strengthened culture."I feel like guys are understanding what it really takes and what it really means to be a professional and to go out there, win games and consistently do it," All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett said. "It's not just an act of talent or practicing well, it's more than that."Browns Preview 2025: Rookie LB Carson Schwesinger keeps beating the oddsCoach Kevin Stefanski changed the practice routine to include tackling twice and simultaneous drills. The tempo and intensity were increased in an attempt to raise the sense of urgency and prepare the team for a difficult six-game stretch to start the season."I feel like the guys are bought into what we're doing and feel like we've had a shift in culture in that regard," special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone said. "No one likes to have a season like we had, and if things are going to change, you have to change some things that you're doing and in your approach to those things."I see it amongst the whole building for our team in general, I think that everyone's holding everyone more accountable."Garrett's noticed a shift."I've seen everyone willing to speak up from the coaches to management," he said. "Whether you're the first year or you're in your 12th year, guys are willing to speak up and let someone know when they need to pick it up or they need more."On the opposite end of the spectrum from the 12 rookies is 40-year-old quarterback Joe Flacco, who will be the starter to open his 18th season. His long and impressive resume, which includes coming off the couch to lead the Browns to the playoffs in 2023, has inspired the team to believe it can prove the doubters wrong.Browns Preview 2025: Joe Flacco's still got the technique — and hopefully a little more left in the tank"It's impressive because I feel old at times and it's like 'Oh, this guy's 6 years older than me in football years,' and so it is very cool to see him go," Bitonio said. "And anytime he makes one of those throws, I'm like, 'The arm has not left him.' He still has that arm and he still has that ability to move around or run. He still loves playing the game and still has that passion, so we're happy to have him."The Browns are 3-22-1 in openers since returning in 1999, 2-3 under Stefanski. The last two, both on the lakefront, are a study in contrasts.In 2023 the Browns beat the Bengals 24-3 and went on to go 11-6 and make the playoffs. Last year they weren't ready and were blitzed by the Cowboys 33-17, setting the tone for a disastrous season.Garrett is hoping to replicate the matchup with the Bengals in which he had a sack and four quarterbacks hits of Joe Burrow."We're hoping to do something very similar and keep those guys mostly contained, or as much as possible, and strike early, try to put the game away and it'll turn into a passing game at end the game and let us up front tee off as a four-man front," Garrett said.Burrow continues to get better and led the NFL last season with 4,918 yards and 43 touchdowns. Despite the success and the league's sixth-highest-scoring offense (27.8), the Bengals missed the playoffs by going 9-8.The Bengals have dug holes in the last three seasons, starting 0-2 in 2022 and '23 and 0-3 last year. The starters played this preseason in an attempt to be ready today."We've been practicing hard. We've been focusing on all the details, but now it's game week," coach Zac Taylor said. "We've got to be on top of everything. We're a focused team right now. There's an urgency that's ramped up. It's upon us now and we're excited about it."Browns cornerback Denzel Ward isn't giving much credence to the media power rankings that have the Browns at or near the bottom of the league."Honestly, I don't really think it matters whether someone ranks us 32 or ranks us No 1. We're going out there as the best team that wins that day, and that's the goal and that's the focus," he said. "So you can't look at all that outside noise and what's going on where they got you ranked. It doesn't affect how we're going to play come gameday."He believes they can shock the world this season."I think we could be special," he said. "But I don't try to look too far ahead, try to take it a day at a time."We got all the pieces and got the players and the want-to and we just got to go make it happen."The journey starts with an AFC North and in-state rival."It's a great feeling having our first game home against a divisional opponent," said receiver Jerry Jeudy, who's coming off his first Pro Bowl season. "That's a team to beat in our division. So it's a test. It means a lot."The post A fresh start: Browns look to prove doubters wrong, shock world, beginning with opener vs. Bengals first appeared on BrownsZone with Scott Petrak.