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The days of the Cleveland Browns being banished to the Sunday afternoon slot are long gone.
These days, the Browns are primetime draws. Cleveland traveled to New Jersey to face the New York Jets on Monday Night Football and will host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football in Week 3.
If the first two games of the season are anything to go by, Cleveland is far more comfortable under the floodlights than it is on a Sunday afternoon.
Freddie Kitchens' team suffered a 43-13 shellacking in the opening game of the season at home to Tennessee, but rebounded convincingly with a 23-3 win over the Jets.
Baker Mayfield completed 19 of 35 passes for 325 yards, one touchdown and one interception as Odell Beckham Jr. did what every Browns fan hoped he would when Cleveland acquired him from the New York Giants.
.@obj had himself a GAME in his return back to MetLife:
— NFL (@NFL) September 17, 2019
? 6 Receptions
? 161 Yards
? 1 Touchdown@Browns | #Browns pic.twitter.com/JS8P9wsDEW
The star receiver had 161 yards over six receptions and one touchdown.
During the offseason, much was made of the offensive weapons the Browns have surrounded Mayfield with, and the combination between the quarterback and Beckham Jr. will be crucial to Cleveland's chances.
Mayfield, however, will not be able to count on David Njoku against the Rams after the tight end broke his wrist. The absence of the third-year tight end, who is also in the league's concussion protocol, could be a major problem for the Browns, who have had one tight end on the field for 98 percent of offensive snaps this season.
The win against the Jets restored some much-needed optimism after the Titans had burst the hype bubble surrounding Cleveland for the whole preseason.
The Browns, however, must back the result up in Week 3—and opponents don't come much harder than the Rams.
The defending NFC champions have picked up where they left off last season, winning on the road against Carolina in Week 1 and beating the New Orleans Saints in Week 2.
Cleveland might have Beckham Jr., but the Rams have a trio of star receivers of their own in the shape of Cooper Kupp, Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods.
The trio have all racked up over 100 receiving yards in the first two games of the season, but don't share Beckham Jr.'s penchant for the limelight.
"They're as selfless a group as I've ever been around," Rams head coach Sean McVay was quoted as saying by ESPN. "They play hard for one another, they play hard for their teammates. They compete with and without the ball."
The battle of the wide receivers could well decide the game in Week 3.
Here's everything you need to know ahead of Sunday.
When and where is the game?
The Cleveland Browns host the Los Angeles Rams at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, on Sunday, September 22.
Kick-off is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET.
TV coverage
The game will be broadcast nationally by NBC.
Live stream
A live stream will be available via NBC's digital platform and the NBC Sports app, as well as via NFL Network online, on connected devices and fuboTV.
Form
The Browns kicked off the season with a calamitous 43-13 defeat at home against the Tennessee Titans in Week 1 but bounced back to win 23-3 on the road against the New York Jets on Monday Night Football.
The Rams, meanwhile, began the season with a narrow 30-27 win in Carolina against the Panthers, before beating the New Orleans Saints 27-9 at home on Sunday in a rematch of last season's NFC Championship Game.
Injury report
The Browns have four major injury concerns after Week 2. Back-up quarterback Drew Stanton is out indefinitely with a knee injury.
Wide receiver Rashard Higgins also has a knee injury but he's likely to suit up on Sunday, while tackle Chris Hubbard is a doubt with an ankle problem. Tight end David Njoku could be out for up to a month with a broken wrist.
The Rams have no fresh injury issues to add to their long-term absentees. Center Austin Blythe and tight end Tyler Higbee are both day-to-day with an ankle and chest problem respectively.
Series record
The Rams lead the all-time series 11-9 and won 24-6 when the two teams last met, in Los Angeles on Christmas Day 2015. The Rams also won the last meeting in Cleveland, winning 13-12 in November 2011.
Odds
According to Oddschecker, the Rams are three-point favorite and are 19/20 to win and cover the spread, while the Browns are 7/5 underdogs.
The over/under bar in terms of total points scored, meanwhile, is set at 35.5.
About the writer
Dan Cancian is currently a reporter for Newsweek based in London, England. Prior to joining Newsweek in January 2018, he ... Read more