The Cleveland Browns and the New York Jets meet in the NFL’s annual Hall of Fame Game on Thursday in a rematch of last year’s embarrassing loss. Leading by 13 with less than two minutes to play, Browns fans were already celebrating their first 2-0 start in nearly three decades.
But then former Jets quarterback Joe Flacco stepped into a phone booth and turned into Superman. A 66-yard touchdown with 1:22 was followed precisely 60 seconds later by another 7 points. The Browns lost by one.
What to Expect from the Cleveland Browns in the Hall of Fame Game
Thursday’s rematch in the NFL’s annual Hall of Fame Game promises to be much less exciting.
Both teams have made significant changes since then. Last year’s quarterback duel was between the Browns Jacoby Brissett and Jets Joe Flacco. Though both teams have theoretically traded up to Deshaun Watson and Aaron Rodgers, respectively, neither will start on Thursday.
Kellen Mond vs Zach Wilson
The Jets took Zach Wilson second overall two years ago, hoping he’d be the franchise savior. Just two seasons later, the Jets were still desperate for a franchise quarterback, so they gave up potentially another first-round choice for their new messiah from Green Bay.
Things have worked out just about as well for Mond. Mond was taken two rounds later by the Minnesota Vikings. He lasted just a season in Minnesota and was claimed by the Browns off of waivers last year. He’s currently battling for the Browns’ third-string quarterback slot.
“I think Kellen’s done a great job,” Stefanski told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “There was a period of just getting to know him early in the season last year. So he’s done everything we’ve asked him to do. I’ve been very impressed with him both in the meeting room and on the practice field.”
Third String Quarterback Battle
Mond has been battling 2023 fifth-round choice Dorian Thompson-Robinson, also known as DTR. On the surface, DTR looks like a better fit as a potential Watson understudy. DTR completed nearly 70% of his passes for UCLA last season with a 27/10 TD/INT ratio while rushing for 646 yards and an additional 12 scores. He lacks polish, but he was considered to potentially have the “best value at the quarterback position,” as one scout told Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline.
DTR has already made an impression on the field in the early days of training camp.
“Yeah, I think he’s had some good reps,” said Stefanski. “I’ve been really pleased with that entire group. DTR is going to get to play quite a bit in this game, so we’re just trying to get him ready to go as a rookie. So I think with each one of his reps, he’s taking advantage of them.”
It’s something of a surprise that Mond is getting the nod in the Hall of Fame Game over DTR, given that the latter was drafted this year. DTR still has the inside track for the last roster spot, with Mond perhaps playing for a spot on the practice squad.
New Look Browns, Simplified
Beyond the signal callers, this will be the first chance most fans will have to see the new-look Browns. All three phases of the game have been revamped in yet another action-packed offseason. While Mond will run a simplified version of the offense designed for Watson, the new Browns defense isn’t designed for any one player. In fact, new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz plans to use a heavy rotation of players at all levels to keep the scheme fresh and aggressive.
“We’re still a work in progress,” said Schwartz (via Mary Kay Cabot). “Particularly for the young guys, Thursday will be a big step for them. We’ll keep it simple for them, and we can see where they are right now.”
Schwartz’s defense will be simplified. But with the Browns expected to use a heavy rotation, even the “backups” have a chance to be heavy contributors. The Hall of Fame Game will go a long way toward determining a few of those bottom-of-the-roster spots, particularly on the defensive line.
Simply the Best
The biggest moment for the Browns will actually come off the field on Thursday. Former Browns left tackle Joe Thomas will be enshrined into the NFL’s Hall of Fame. Thomas was the fifth player in NFL history and the first-ever offensive lineman to be named to the Pro Bowl each of his first 10 seasons. Thomas played 10,363 consecutive snaps, which is believed to be the longest in NFL history. He is considered to be perhaps the best OL of his generation. Even though he never even appeared in a playoff game.
“For him to stay motivated and perform the way he did, it’s just a remarkable achievement,” said former Browns general manager Phil Savage to ESPN, who drafted Thomas with the third pick in 2007. “While all the pieces changed around him, he just stayed the same. To have that kind of discipline is just amazing.”
Main Image: Phil Masturzo / USA TODAY NETWORK
