With Johnny Manziel sidelined, Josh McCown will get all the snaps he can handle when the Cleveland Browns take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (Getty)
The Cleveland Browns and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have combined for just one win this preseason, but both have shown glimpses of taking significant steps forward in 2015.
For the 0-2 Browns, the play of the young defensive players has been encouraging. Rookies Danny Shelton, Xavier Cooper, Ibraheim Campbell, Dylan Wynn and Nate Orchard have all played well, and the defense as a whole, despite missing a slew of starting defensive backs, has allowed just 31 points in two games.
The Bucs, meanwhile, looked dominant in every facet last week against the Cincinnati Bengals. Jameis Winston moved the ball well, while the defense forced three turnovers against Andy Dalton and Cincy’s first-team offense.
These teams have just two postseason appearances in the last decade, but they are young, intriguing and worth watching, even during the preseason. Here’s everything you need to know about the matchup:
Game Information
(Getty)
Date: Saturday, August 29, 2015
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
TV Channel: WEWS in Cleveland; WFLA in Tampa. Click here for a full list of local affiliates
Live Stream: NFL.com
Odds: Tampa Bay (-3), Over/Under 40, via OddsShark.com
Browns Player to Watch: Terrelle Pryor
Saturday is a critical day for Terrelle Pryor – his first game at WR.
Pryor, who has made the switch from quarterback to wide receiver this offseason, was making a lot of noise early in training camp, but that buzz cooled off when a hamstring injury forced him to miss the first two games of the preseason.
A 6-foot-4, 223-pound freak-of-nature athlete, Pryor is undeniably a tantalizing option, someone who has the talent to at least somewhat ease the loss of Josh Gordon. Earlier in the offseason, he was considered a “lock” to make the final 53-man roster.
Now, though, his standing with the team isn’t so clear. He has the skills, but now he needs to show that he’s healthy and capable of translating those skills to live game action. This is his best remaining opportunity to do that.
Bucs Player to Watch: Jameis Winston
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Jameis Winston’s second preseason game wasn’t perfect. He missed on a couple throws, and his final numbers were good but not particularly mind-blowing: 8-of-13, 90 yards and a short rushing touchdown.
But it was throws like this that make you realize why the Bucs took him first overall in April:
3 defenders. 1 WR. The degree of difficulty on this seam pass? It’s up there.
Now watch @Jaboowins work. http://t.co/SPoaWKWMo4
The way he holds the safety off with his head movement (better view of that here), the timing and anticipation of the throw, it was all extremely un-rookie-like. And judging by the past couple of years, very un-Tampa-Bay-Buccaneers-quarterback-like.
Winston will surely hit some bumps along the way, but he’s a must-watch talent every time he steps onto the field.
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