SUNDAY PRESEASON NFL: NEW YORK GIANTS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS

SUNDAY PRESEASON NFL: NEW YORK GIANTS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS

BY ADAM GREENE

After a full Saturday of NFL football we get a little normalcy as the New York Giants travel to Ohio to take on the Cleveland Browns Sunday in the usual 1 p.m. EST time slot. And while I might normally joke about back ups, practice squads and cuts here, so far in Week 2 of the preseason, teams have rolled with their starters a while, at least a quarter.

So that means we’ll get to see the Baker Mayfield vs Daniel Jones match up of which we’ve been dreaming as a precursor to two years from now when Cleveland signs Jones as a free agent to be Mayfield’s No. 2. I’m not predicting that, necessarily, but would you be shocked? Me neither.

NEW YORK GIANTS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (-4.5, O/U 34.5)

Location: FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Broadcast: NFL Network

Kickoff: Aug. 22, 1 p.m. EST

NEW YORK GIANTS (0-1)

Jones never saw the field in last week’s 12-7 loss to the New York Jets. He’s expected to suit up in this one to face off against his arch nemesis, Mayfield, who according to the official narrative “trashed” Jones in an interview in GQ in 2019. I think that’s too strong, but all Mayfield really did was say what plenty of sportswriters had actually put on paper and the internet about Jones when New York took him No. 6 overall. They’ve patched everything up, according to them, but make no mistake — this is going to be the narrative you’ll get all through the first part of the game.

The Giants need Jones to make the leap this year because backup Mike Glennon has proven at every turn he should never be handed the keys. Clayton Thorson is on injured reserve and Brian Lewerke would have issues getting picked out of a police line up by his own mom. Frankly, I’m excited to see him get in the game just to prove he’s real.

CLEVELAND BROWNS (1-0)

The Browns ruined Trevor Lawrence’s debut with the Jacksonville Jaguars, knocking them off 23-13 last week. Like Jones, Mayfield never saw a snap. But unlike what the Giants got out of their reserves, Cleveland’s backups tore it up. Kyle Lauletta and Case Keenum combined to finish 31 of 44 for 319 yards and two touchdowns with no picks. There was no running game to speak of, but neither Nick Chubb nor Kareem Hunt took the field. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has to be careful how he handles the preseason. He’s coaching a contender now, and the sure fire way to screw it up is getting a key player hurt. If Cleveland plays starters, I don’t expect it to last more than a few series.

THE PICK

The Browns have benefited by years of high draft picks all getting good at the same time coupled with key trades and the right young coaching hire. Now that he has a winner, all Stefanski has to do is continue to build his depth and they’ve done that. I’d bet all of Cleveland’s No. 2s could beat New York’s starters. As it is, this one should be a cruise. Browns 28, Giants 13

Last week

Straight up: 6-10

Against the spread: 5-11

Preseason

Straight up: 7-10

Against the spread: 6-11

The NFL season begins on Thursday, Sep. 9 and the Week 1 Schedule is already up and taking bets at BetOnline.AG.

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