CLEVELAND — On Thursday, the Cleveland Browns (0-1) will host the Cincinnati Bengals (0-10 in Week 2 of the 2020 NFL season.
What follows are three keys to the Browns securing their first victory of the 2020 campaign:
On the same page
Of all the miscues that stood out during the Browns' season-opening 38-6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, one of the most alarming was the apparent lack of chemistry between quarterback Baker Mayfield and star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
In the days since, both Mayfield and Beckham -- as well as head coach Kevin Stefanski -- have stressed the need for all three to get on the same page if the Browns offense is going to live up to its potential this season.
"We did not connect obviously as much as we would like to, Stefanski said. "I think it is a combination of things. You have to really start with them and give them credit. They made some plays. A couple balls, I am sure Baker wants back. A couple of routes, I am sure Odell wants back. That is the nature of this thing."
"Sunday wasn't what we wanted, but more game reps will be the way to go," Beckham said.
Added Mayfield, "It has to come naturally. Obviously, you gameplan and you scheme up things to get the ball in your playmakers’ hands, but when it comes to game time, they are going to give us certain looks that might take that away."
While Cleveland's disjointed offense looked eerily similar to how it did a season ago on Sunday, Thursday will present the Browns with their next opportunity to prove the season opener was an aberration. In many ways, getting Beckham involved more naturally isn't just a key for Thursday, but the remainder of the 2020 season as well.
Beware of Burrow
Joe Burrow might not have won his NFL debut, but it wasn't hard to see that Cincinnati might have something special in its new signal-caller. In what was ultimately a 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, the No. 1 pick of the 2020 NFL Draft completed 23 of his 36 pass attempts for 193 yards, while rushing for 46 yards and a touchdown.
A native of Athens, Ohio, Burrow began his college career at Ohio State before transferring to LSU. In 2019, he enjoyed one of the greatest college football seasons in history, winning the Heisman Trophy while leading the Tigers to the College Football Playoff championship.
If the Browns are going to avoid an 0-2 start, they're going to have to do everything they can to prevent Burrow from breaking loose.
"A really good young player," Stefanski said of Burrow this week. "Obviously, had as good a college career and as good of a year as you can have. A special player. You saw on that [rushing] touchdown, he has great movement skills. He can make all the throws. We have our work cut out for us.”
Kicking concerns
After Austin Seibert missed his only field goal and extra-point tries against the Ravens, the Browns made the unsurprising decision to waive the second-year kicker, promoting Cody Parkey from the team's practice squad.
But in a plot twist that only seems to happen to teams like Cleveland, it was the Bengals who claimed Seibert, meaning the Browns will be facing their former kicker on Thursday night.
For many Cleveland fans, fear exists that Cincinnati's signing of Seibert will result in the Browns' former kicker beating them just days after being released. Asked about this very scenario, Stefanski insisted he possesses no such concern.
"No, it's not worrisome," Stefanski said.
If Cleveland is going to beat the Bengals, the Browns -- and Parkey -- are going to need to prove they made the right call.