The Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers faced off in an intriguing NFL preseason opener on August 10, 2024, at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio. The final score of 23-10 in favor of the Packers showcased a game where both teams tested their depth, with many starters, including Cleveland’s Deshaun Watson, seeing limited or no action. This human-written article dives deep into the player statistics from this matchup, offering a comprehensive look at individual performances, key plays, and their implications for the 2024 NFL season. By analyzing offensive, defensive, and special teams contributions, we aim to provide an informative breakdown of how players from both sides shaped the outcome of this game.
Offensive Performances: Packers’ Explosive Start
The Green Bay Packers wasted no time asserting their offensive prowess, with quarterback Jordan Love setting the tone early. On the third play of the game, Love connected with wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks for a spectacular 65-yard touchdown pass, giving Green Bay a 7-0 lead just 1:22 into the first quarter. Love completed both of his pass attempts for 65 yards and a touchdown in his lone series, demonstrating why the Packers invested in him with a four-year, $220 million contract extension. His precision and ability to exploit the Browns’ secondary underscored his growth as a franchise quarterback. Following Love’s exit, backup quarterbacks Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt took over, with Clifford leading the charge. Clifford completed 10 of 19 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown, showing poise in his bid for the backup role. His notable contribution included a 13-yard pass to wide receiver Grant DuBose on a critical fourth-down conversion in the second quarter, which kept a scoring drive alive. Pratt, a rookie, completed 5 of 7 passes for 41 yards, adding depth to Green Bay’s quarterback competition. On the ground, running back Emanuel Wilson led the Packers with 13 carries for 67 yards and a 5-yard touchdown, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. Rookie Jarveon Howard also impressed, rushing for 44 yards on eight attempts, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. The Packers’ rushing attack was relentless, totaling 155 yards, which exposed weaknesses in Cleveland’s run defense. Wide receiver Grant DuBose emerged as a standout, catching five passes for 66 yards, including a toe-dragging 23-yard reception that highlighted his potential as a depth piece in Green Bay’s receiving corps. The Packers’ offense was efficient, converting 6 of 13 third downs and 2 of 3 fourth downs, while their 377 total yards (222 passing, 155 rushing) overwhelmed Cleveland’s defense.
Browns’ Offensive Struggles and Bright Spots
The Cleveland Browns, opting to rest several starters, including quarterback Deshaun Watson, relied on a trio of quarterbacks—Jameis Winston, Tyler Huntley, and Dorian Thompson-Robinson—to navigate the game. Winston started and played sparingly, completing 4 of 5 passes for 30 yards, with his most significant contribution being an 18-yard pass to wide receiver Michael Woods that set up a 55-yard field goal by kicker Cade York in the first quarter. Huntley struggled, completing 5 of 9 passes for 26 yards and failing to convert a crucial fourth-down pass in the second quarter. Thompson-Robinson, however, provided a spark, completing 14 of 18 passes for 134 yards and adding 12 rushing yards on three carries, including a notable hurdle for a first down on a fourth-and-1 play in the fourth quarter. His mobility and decision-making led the Browns to their only touchdown, a 1-yard run by running back Aidan Robbins. The Browns’ rushing game was lackluster, managing just 69 yards on 21 carries, with Robbins leading with 6 yards on four attempts and the aforementioned touchdown. Wide receiver Matt Landers caught three passes for 29 yards, while James Proche III and Ahmarean Brown also contributed minimally. The Browns’ offense struggled with efficiency, converting only 3 of 11 third downs and 1 of 3 fourth downs, and their 227 total yards (158 passing, 69 rushing) reflected a lack of cohesion against Green Bay’s stout defense. A fumble by running back John Kelly Jr. early in the third quarter further hampered Cleveland’s momentum, leading to a Packers field goal. Despite these challenges, Thompson-Robinson’s performance offered a glimpse of potential for the Browns’ backup quarterback role.
Defensive Standouts: Packers’ Dominance Up Front
The Green Bay Packers’ defense was a force to be reckoned with, particularly in stifling Cleveland’s ground game. The defensive front, led by players like Kingsley Enagbare and Brenton Cox Jr., consistently disrupted the Browns’ rushing attempts, holding them to a meager 69 yards on 21 carries, an average of just 3.3 yards per carry. Linebacker Kristian Welch made a significant impact by recovering a fumble forced from Browns running back John Kelly Jr. at the start of the third quarter, setting up a 35-yard field goal by kicker Greg Joseph. Safety Evan Williams continued to shine as a playmaker, recording multiple tackles and showcasing his instincts in coverage, as noted by Packers analysts Mike Spofford and Wes Hodkiewicz. The secondary, despite missing cornerback Jaire Alexander due to a personal matter, held firm, limiting Cleveland’s passing game to 158 net yards. The Packers’ defense forced two turnovers on downs, including a critical stop in the second quarter when Browns quarterback Tyler Huntley’s fourth-down pass fell incomplete. Green Bay’s defensive line also generated consistent pressure, with four tackles for loss and a sack, contributing to Cleveland’s eight punts. The unit’s ability to control the line of scrimmage and prevent big plays was a key factor in the Packers’ 23-10 victory, signaling a promising start for their defensive depth in the 2024 preseason.
Browns’ Defensive Efforts and Missed Opportunities
The Cleveland Browns’ defense faced a tough challenge against Green Bay’s balanced offensive attack, particularly in stopping the run. The Packers racked up 155 rushing yards, with Emanuel Wilson and Jarveon Howard exploiting gaps in Cleveland’s front seven. Linebacker Devin Bush led the Browns with eight tackles, but the defense struggled to contain Green Bay’s ground game, allowing three different Packers rushers to gain at least 10 yards. The secondary, featuring cornerbacks like Martin Emerson Jr., was exposed early by Jordan Love’s 65-yard touchdown pass to Dontayvion Wicks, highlighting issues with deep coverage. Defensive end Za’Darius Smith recorded a sack, one of the few bright spots, but the Browns managed only two tackles for loss and failed to force any turnovers. A critical moment came in the first quarter when running back AJ Dillon was stopped for no gain on a fourth-and-1 at the Packers’ 46-yard line, giving Cleveland a chance to shift momentum. However, the offense failed to capitalize, going three-and-out on the ensuing drive. The Browns’ defense forced Green Bay to punt five times, but their inability to generate consistent pressure (one sack) or create turnovers allowed the Packers to sustain long drives, including a 77-yard march in the first half that ended in a touchdown. Cleveland’s defensive performance underscored the need for improved run defense and secondary cohesion as they prepare for the regular season.
Special Teams: Kicking Competitions in Focus
Special teams played a pivotal role for both teams, with kicking competitions taking center stage. For the Packers, Anders Carlson and Greg Joseph were perfect on their attempts, with Carlson nailing a 33-yard field goal and an extra point, and Joseph converting a 35-yard field goal and an extra point. Their accuracy kept the kicking battle tight, as both vie for the starting role in 2024. Punter Daniel Whelan averaged 45.6 yards on five punts, with two landing inside the 20-yard line, effectively pinning Cleveland’s offense deep. For the Browns, kicker Cade York was a standout, drilling a 55-yard field goal in the first quarter to put Cleveland on the board and adding an extra point on the team’s lone touchdown. York’s performance was a positive sign in his bid to secure the kicking job. Punter Corey Bojorquez, a former Packer, averaged 46.8 yards on eight punts, with three inside the 20, but Cleveland’s return game was quiet, with no significant gains. The special teams units for both teams were disciplined, avoiding penalties and executing well under the NFL’s new dynamic kickoff rules, which Cleveland tested for the first time in this game.
Key Takeaways and Implications for 2024
The August 10, 2024, preseason matchup between the Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers offered valuable insights into both teams’ rosters as they gear up for the regular season. For the Packers, Jordan Love’s brief but brilliant performance reaffirmed his status as a cornerstone player, while backups Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt showed promise in the quarterback competition. The rushing duo of Emanuel Wilson and Jarveon Howard, combined with Grant DuBose’s receiving prowess, highlighted Green Bay’s offensive depth. Defensively, the Packers’ ability to dominate the line of scrimmage and limit Cleveland’s run game bodes well for their front seven and secondary depth, even without key starters like Jaire Alexander. On the Browns’ side, Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s performance was a silver lining, suggesting he could be a reliable backup option. However, the offense’s overall struggles, particularly in the run game, and the defense’s inability to stop Green Bay’s rushing attack exposed areas for improvement. Cade York’s strong kicking performance was a positive, but Cleveland’s lack of explosiveness without their starters raises questions about their depth. Both teams used this game to evaluate young talent and refine strategies, with the Packers’ 23-10 victory reflecting their superior execution on both sides of the ball. As the 2024 season approaches, these player stats and performances will inform roster decisions and game plans, setting the stage for what promises to be a competitive year in the NFL.
