The Green Bay Packers will be in action for the first time in the 2024 season, and in the battle of attrition over 18 weeks, they’ll need their depth to not only step up at times but play well in spot duty. The Packers are part of a nine-game Saturday slate, taking on the Cleveland Browns.
Here is everything you need to know surrounding the Packers vs. Browns Week 1 preseason game, including the channel, start time, live stream options, and more.
How To Watch Green Bay Packers at Cleveland Browns
- Start time: Saturday, August 10, 2024, 4:25 p.m. ET
- Channel: Local
- Live stream options: NFL+
- Radio stations: Green Bay Packers Radio Network, Cleveland Browns Radio Network
- Starting QBs: Jordan Love, Jameis Winston
- Betting lines:
- Spread: CLE -3
- Total: 39.5
- Moneyline: CLE -166, GB +140
The Packers head to Ohio to take on the Cleveland Browns as both squads make their preseason debuts. After a questionable start to the 2023 campaign, quarterback Jordan Love and the Packers fought back, winning seven of their last 10 games to clinch a Wild Card spot.
After a thorough beat down of the Cowboys on Wild Card Weekend, the Packers looked to be headed to an NFC Championship Game, holding a 21-17 lead late in the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers. But a late touchdown from Christian McCaffery would knock Green Bay out of the playoffs.
While a tough defeat, the season was a success given the unknowns entering 2023.
Now, with a 4,000-yard season under his belt, can Love duplicate his success from a year ago? While Aaron Jones signed with the division-rival Vikings, the Packers agreed to terms with Josh Jacobs to add another proven bell-cow running back to the backfield.
Nothing changed in the receiver room, but another year of reps gives Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, and Dontayvion Wicks more time to develop chemistry with Love. It’s worth noting that while Reed and Wicks are just second-year receivers, Reed led the Packers in just about every receiving statistic, while Wicks ranked third on the squad, hauling in 39 of his 58 targets for 581 yards and four TDs.
The Packers are still an incredibly young team on offense. Will the youth catch up to some of the aging contracts on the defensive side? Last season was a vital step in getting this squad experience. Given another opportunity, don’t expect the Packers to take another loss like their 2023 NFC Divisional letdown.
Packers at Browns Betting Preview
We go from two teams with lots of question marks to two more settled teams in the game between the Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns. The storylines here are a little together to figure out and we could see a lot of depth options getting snaps, which could lead to some sloppy play.
Not knowing exactly how much we might see of various players will make this a tough game to call. I am backing a lower-scoring game, and I believe there is more for the likes of Jameis Winston and Dorian Thompson-Robinson to prove than for anyone in a crucial role on the Packers.
For more betting analysis, make sure to check out PFN’s Week 1 preseason picks and predictions.
Fantasy Players To Watch
QB Deshaun Watson
This was a tough one because the Browns actually have a lot of question marks from a fantasy perspective regarding players beyond WR Amari Cooper and TE David Njoku. There could be as many as four additional fantasy-relevant players … or zero. But the guy that will determine all of this is the quarterback.
Deshaun Watson played just six games in 2022 and looked quite rusty after sitting out the 2021 season and being suspended for the first 11 games of 2022. In 2023, Watson again played only six games due to a shoulder injury.
We’re looking for two things if Watson plays in the preseason. First and foremost, does he look healthy? His arm strength and accuracy will be most telling.
Second, does he look good? When Watson has been on the field the past two seasons, he hasn’t come close to resembling the elite QB1 we remember from his Houston days.
Performing well in the preseason certainly won’t guarantee Watson does well in the regular season. However, performing poorly against backups doesn’t exactly bode well for his prospects. Keep a close eye on how Watson looks.
RB MarShawn Lloyd
To be candid, I could’ve listed any of the wide receivers here as well. The Packers have a lot of potentially impactful fantasy weapons but few guaranteed ones.
While the WR situation is interesting, fantasy managers should be more focused on the performance of rookie RB MarShawn Lloyd. We know Josh Jacobs is the starter, but whether this is a 70/30 split or more of a 55/45 split will be heavily dependent on how much Lloyd can impress his coaches.
Head coach Matt LaFleur is known for utilizing a committee. Lloyd could end up more valuable than fantasy managers are projecting. Be sure to keep tabs on how he looks in the preseason.
For more fantasy analysis, make sure to check out PFN’s fantasy players to watch during the NFL preseason.
