Carolina Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield will have an immediate chance for redemption in Week 1.
After winning the starting quarterback job over Sam Darnold during Training Camp, Mayfield will get the opportunity to face off against his former team, the Browns, on September 11.
True to his usual form, Mayfield was incredibly cocky when talking about the upcoming matchup against the Browns.
“I’m going to f–k them up,” Mayfield reportedly told a reporter ahead of the matchup.
Week 1 Panthers vs Browns NFL Odds & Betting Lines
Per DraftKings, the Panthers are 2.5-point favorites against the Browns for the opening week game. Check out the full odds below:
- Spread: Panthers -2.5
- Moneyline: Panthers -135 Browns +115
- O/U: 41.5
- 1st half: Panthers -1
While the Panthers have fully embraced Baker Mayfield as their starting quarterback, the Browns will be forced to hand over the reigns to veteran Jacoby Brissett in wake of the suspension to Deshaun Watson.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski pointed to Brissett’s experience when explaining why he’s optimistic he can thrive in the Browns system.
“You just think about the different situations,” Stefanski said. “He’s (Brissett) been in New England. Played there when (Tom) Brady was out, going to Indianapolis as a backup. He’s a starter all of the sudden with Andrew Luck’s retirement. Phillip Rivers comes in and makes him the backup again. He’s kind of seen it all.”
With the Deshaun Watson suspension news looming throughout Training Camp, Stefanski admitted that he’s been preparing Brissett for the Panthers for a long time now.
“Now as he gets more reps with the ones, more reps with the offensive line and the receivers and the tight ends and those type of things, now it’s just about banking that into your memory so you know how how guys run certain routes. But really, along the entire way we’ve been preparing for this.”
Even though Jacoby Brissett will have a major opportunity with the Browns this season, all eyes will be on Baker Mayfield during the Week 1 matchup.
