Before the Browns even stepped on the field for their week one matchup against their in-state rivals, there were many questions surrounding the team.

Can Flacco be the same quarterback he was when he lead Cleveland to the playoffs and won Comeback Player of the Year? Will the defense play to their standards? How long before management hits the reset button and starts one of their rookie quarterbacks?

While some of the answers are more clear, the Browns have an even bigger question to answer: Why the hell did they cut Dustin Hopkins for rookie kicker Andre Szmyt??? What makes this situation even more perplexing is that Dustin Hopkins signed a three-year contract extension only a year ago.

To be fair, no one would be questioning that decision had Szmyt made his field goal attempt (or at least the PAT attempt). Browns fans will remember a recent debacle with the kicker position. After a solid first season, Cade York struggled mightily in the 2023 preseason. This lead to fans eating him alive and the eventual trade for Dustin Hopkins from the Chargers.

This time, however, the Browns cut Dustin Hopkins because of weak preseason play and now the front office may be regretting that choice. Szmyt will now be on thin ice and any miss he makes from here on out will be scrutinized. Next week we will see whether he can recover. As a team though, the more important takeaway for the Browns is that they did deserve to win against the Bengals.

While Flacco had two picks, both were really drops that the wide receivers bobbled rather than his own mistakes. While he did look conservative at times, Flacco’s veteran presence showed several times and will likely contribute to surprising wins this season. The pass defense also looked strong with six time Pro Bowler Myles Garrett leading the pack. His back-to-back sacks in the game showed how his rare combination of speed, agility, and raw power will lead him to once again being a Defensive Player of the Year candidate. While the run defense struggled, I expect that to improve as the team gets in a rhythm and Mason Graham finds his groove.

The most surprising rookie standout may have actually been the Browns’ 67th pick, Harold Fannin Jr. Head Coach Kevin Stefanski loves versatile tight ends and Fannin Jr. may be the offensive joker card this team needs. Fannin Jr. showed off his catching ability ending with seven catches for sixty three yards. What most struck me though was the utilization of him in the Wild Cat formation. Look for Fannin Jr. to be a promising prospect all season and a potential fantasy football sleeper.

Overall, the season opener was disappointing not because the Browns were bad but because they looked good. That sentiment should at least give hope to fans that this team can make some noise this season. Next week’s matchup against the Ravens in Baltimore will be telling. Can the Browns take on a true championship contender and do they need to be in the market for a new kicker already?