COLUMBUS – Week 1 of the NFL season brings the first matchup of the season between two cross-state rivals as the Bengals travel up I-71 to visit the Cleveland Browns.
Both teams are expected to contend for primacy in the highly competitive AFC North and the game will be the first of the season for two high-powered quarterbacks.
Deshaun Watson begins his first full season with Cleveland after the Browns quarterback was suspended for the first 11 games in 2022.
Watson looked rusty when he returned, but the three-time Pro Bowler had a strong training camp and has taken control of Cleveland’s offense.
The Browns will play four of their first five games at home and will face each of its AFC North rivals in the first four weeks. Cleveland is just 1-15-1 in home season openers since 1999.
Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow missed much of the summer after injuring his calf, but the star quarterback is expected to play, having secured a contract extension that makes him the NFL’s highest-paid player.
Burrow agreed to a five-year, $275 million contract extension on Thursday, according to a person familiar with the deal who spoke on condition of anonymity because it hadn’t been announced.
The person says the contract includes more than $219 million guaranteed.
Burrow will be paid an average of $55 million per year.
Burrow has led the Bengals to two straight AFC North titles and a Super Bowl two seasons ago. He set franchise single-season records for completions, pass attempts and passing touchdowns last year.