The hype for the season-opening showdown between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns is already growing.
While fans focus on roster cutdowns and such, it’s actually Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson talking up the matchup, the first of two Battle of Ohio installments for 2023.
Watson says the game plan calls for unleashing everything.
“Once September 10th comes around in Cleveland Stadium, it is going to be fireworks,” Watson said, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “We have 10 days to get that tuned up and ready to go. That’s the plan. Don’t hold anything back and let it all loose. We want to go out there and have fun doing it.”
On the other side of the showdown, the Bengals are once again projected to have an elite defense. Last year in one meeting against Lou Anarumo’s unit, Watson went 26-of-42 for 276 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a 23-10 Bengals win.
Of course, the attention of fans will center on whether Joe Burrow suits up for the game, though that hasn’t felt like an actual concern for a few weeks now.
Either way, the Browns sound like a team wanting to get back on track against a rival.
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