The fun part about the NFL Preseason is that it has a way of equalizing matchups between lopsided teams. A regular-season meeting between the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles would be a bloodbath. In Preseason Week 2, it’s an intriguing contest.
The Eagles are -4.5 favorites at home in this game on DraftKings Sportsbook. Philly is a -205 favorite on the Moneyline with the total set at 37.5 points. Let’s get into a preview, prediction, and pick for this Eagles-Browns game.
Eagles vs. Browns preview, prediction
Browns Overview
No quarterback competition is more wide-open than Cleveland’s. Saturday’s game is a big step in deciding who will be under center come Week 1. Unfortunately, they’ll be without Shedeur Sanders, who put on a show as the starter last week. He’s not the only QB struggling with injury since Joe Flacco, the favorite to start the regular season, has been ruled out. Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel are both nursing injuries. It’s likely that fifth-stringer Tyler Huntley starts and may even play the whole game.
This may be a QB battle decided in camp. Joe Flacco has been playing well in joint practices against Philly, and this may be his job to lose. Gabriel and Pickett put forth good reps during camp. Shedeur has had less time with the starters in practice, but showed out in the only game action any of the four have played. A lot can change in the next two weeks.
Cleveland’s receiver battle should be fun. Every spot besides Jerry Jeudy appears to be up for grabs. Jamari Thrash is trying to grab hold of the starting slot position over new signee DeAndre Carter. Cedric Tillman will try to hold on to the second outside role over Kaden Davis, Isaiah Bond, and others. If Huntley plays the whole game, it gives them a good measure of who is leading this competition.
Snaps are up for grabs in the backfield as well. Jerome Ford is the presumed starter, but Dylan Sampson has made a good case for snaps and recent draftee Quinshon Judkins looms if, or when, he and the team agree to a contract. There will be spots down the running back depth chart up for grabs, and more than a few bodies making a case for those jobs.
There’s less to settle on defense. The secondary is more or less locked in, as is the starting defensive line. It’s more vital for them to get a look at their first and second-round picks, Mason Graham and Carson Schwesinger. Both are presumed starters and will be essential cogs for this defense from day one. If any part of this Browns team can succeed, it’s the defense. The two rookies hitting the ground running could help drag this group towards average.
Eagles Overview
When you’re the defending champs, there’s little to settle before the games really matter. That’s the price of being elite.
There’s only one real starting job to settle on offense. Pro Bowl guard Landon Dickerson went down with a minor meniscus tear that required a surgical procedure. There’s hope he can be ready for Week 1 against the Cowboys, but Philly has two more games to see who should fill his spot if forced to miss time. Former first-round pick and trade reclamation project Kenyon Green will get snaps. They have other depth options like Brett Toth, Darian Kinnard, and UDFA Hollin Pierce to evaluate over the next two games.
One thing is for sure: the backup quarterback job belongs to Tanner McKee. That man was dealing last week against the Bengals.
The defense carries more intrigue. Though not the most important defensive line spot in a 3-4 scheme, the starting DE role is up for grabs. Incumbent starting ILB Nakobe Dean is once again injured, and though first-round pick Jihaad Campbell is projected to start, fifth-round pick Smael Mondon Jr. will get snaps as well. The second outside corner spot should belong to Kelee Ringo, but he’s got some competition. Second-round pick Andrew Mukuba will put pressure on Sydney Brown for the starting box safety position.
GM Howie Roseman invested heavily in Philadelphia’s depth during the draft while keeping the starters together. It’s not going to be a star-studded exhibition for Philly, but it could prove an important one as they look to supplement their championship core with more competition and youth.
Eagles vs. Browns pick, best bet
The gap in these rosters cannot be overstated. A lot of Philly’s backups would be starters in Cleveland. That includes quarterback Tanner McKee. Even if he doesn’t play much in this game, they have Dorian Thompson-Robinson and rookie Kyle McCord facing off for the QB3 spot.
It’s tough to set lines for a preseason game with total playing time for starters unclear, but the Eagles should romp over the Browns.
