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Dec 8, 2013; Foxborough, MA, USA; A Cleveland Browns helmet sits on the sidelines during the fourth quarter of New England's 27-26 win at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
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Browns begin season of expectations against Titans

Matt Verderame NFL

The time has come for the Cleveland Browns.

Unlike any offseason since the team was reborn in 1999, there’s optimism. Tons and tons of optimism.

In Vegas, the Browns are favored to win the AFC North. The last time they won a division? The AFC North wasn’t a thing. It was the AFC Central, and it was the first year George Bush was president. The first George Bush.

Enter the current group. Cleveland boasts a bevy of talented youngsters, ranging from quarterback Baker Mayfield, receivers Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr,. tight end David Njoku, running backs Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb to edge rusher Myles Garrett and cornerbacks Greedy Williams and Denzel Ward. Long list.

As for confidence, it’s not lacking. Mayfield has more swag than some teams, and take about how his belief rises when looking around at the roster. Per Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

“I have full confidence in all our playmakers, our skill position guys that if they have one-on-ones, they should be licking their chops and they should all take that as disrespect because that’s the type of team we have and we need to take advantage of,’’ Mayfield said. “It’s going to be a matchup game.’’

Whether the Browns are all hype or all-world remains to be seen. We start to find out Sunday in their tilt with the Tennessee Titans.

Tennessee might be the least-sexy team in football. Marcus Mariota isn’t doing GQ profiles, Mike Vrabel is better known as a player than a coach, and the weapons are largely anonymous. Could you pick Corey Davis out of a crowd? Not likely.

Point being, the Titans appear an easier mark than they actually are. Tennessee won nine games last year and went to the AFC Divisional round the season before that. While left tackle Taylor Lewan won’t play due to suspension, the Titans are a live underdog coming to the shores of Lake Erie.

The biggest matchup to watch will be Cleveland’s receivers against Tennessee’s secondary of Logan Ryan, Kevin Byard, Malcolm Butler and Adoree’ Jackson. If Mayfield can carve up the Titans’ defense, there’s a good chance he’ll do ample damage to most opposing defenses.

For the first time in 25 years, the Browns and their fans have reason to believe. On Sunday, they’ll get their first look at what could be the first of many fun campaigns to come.

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