Browns fans, are you ready for some football?

It is that time of year again in Northeast Ohio. The leaves are beginning to change colors. That unique, “perfect-hoodie-weather”, feel that the fall season brings is creeping in more-and-more each evening. And everyone in town has something to say about the Cleveland Browns. May be negative. Could be positive. Or maybe they’re cautiously optimistic. Regardless, Everyone has an opinion, it seems. That type of pressure and microscope will always be on the Browns due to the city’s unwavering infatuation with their football team.

This year though, there is more to that pressure. The Browns, coming off their second playoff appearance in four years, come into the 2024 season with plenty of expectations. After shocking the world, a year ago with a storybook season (11 wins) where Cleveland prospered despite facing major adversity, this team won’t be able to live off of those 2023 good vibes. Joe Flacco, the unlikely lead-star in the Browns wild finish a season ago, is no longer a part of this team. One of the most important non-head coaches in the league, offensive line coach Bill Callahan, is no longer in Cleveland after being a staple of the organization for years.

Those losses along with many other moving parts this offseason, solidify the turning of the page to a new season and new expectations. With quarterback Deshaun Watson healthy and set to begin his third year under head coach Kevin Stefanski, and the majority of the NFL’s top-ranked defense from a season ago back as well, double-digit wins and another playoff berth seems like the floor for 2024 expectations.

Three vital offensive linemen- Jack Conklin, Jedrick Wills and Dawand Jones, who were all lost for the season last year, are also now healthy and back in the lineup. This offseason, the Browns resigned defensive end Za’Darius Smith (two years, $23.5 million), defensive tackle Maurice Hurst, punter Corey Bojorquez, and defensive tackle Shelby Harris (two years, $9 million). The Browns also added former first round pick, wide receiver Jerry Jeudy and quarterback Jameis Winston and expect star running back Nick Chubb to return around week five.

A successful season for the Browns in 2024 could go a long way in legitimizing the recent success and taking a ton of key figures, namely Watson, Stefanski and General Manager Andrew Berry. Though both Stefanksi and Berry have had a successful tenure overall, certain decisions (Hi Mr. Watson) and questions that still surround Stefanksi can either be validated with a winning season or confirmed to be mistakes if things go awry.

The first test for the Browns comes on Sunday when the Dallas Cowboys visit Cleveland for a nationally televised showdown of playoff teams from a year ago. Both teams come in with high expectations yet plenty of doubters. Tom Brady will also be at the game as he makes his broadcasting debut for Fox. The last time the two teams faced-off was in 2020 when the Browns went into Dallas and won a high-scoring battle, 48-39. The Browns are slight betting favorites in their opener against the Cowboys and have an over/under season win total of 9.5 games. For the sake of many in the Browns facility and many, many more across Northeast Ohio, the over on that bet is sorely needed.