Monday Night Football Season 45 Episode 1 Preseason: Buffalo Bills at Cleveland Browns

Preseason football is back and what a better way to start the 45th season of Monday Night Football than with a clash between two great teams, the Buffalo Bills and the Cleveland Browns. This game marks the first time these two teams have met since Week 10 of the 2019 season when the Browns defeated the Bills 19-16.

Both teams have been in the headlines during the offseason. The Bills made it all the way to the AFC Championship game in the 2020 season before losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. They are looking to build on that success and make a run at the Super Bowl this season. The Browns, on the other hand, made the playoffs for the first time in 18 years last season and won their first playoff game since 1994. They are looking to continue that success this season and make a deeper run in the playoffs.

In this preseason game, the starters for both teams are expected to play limited snaps as the coaching staff looks to evaluate the depth of the roster and give younger players a chance to showcase their skills. Fans will get their first look at some of the new additions to both teams and see how they fit in with the rest of the roster.

One player to watch for the Bills is quarterback Josh Allen. After a breakout season in 2020 where he threw for over 4,500 yards and 37 touchdowns, expectations are high for him this season. He will be looking to build on last season's success and continue to develop as a quarterback. The Bills will also be looking to see how their new backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky fits in with the team. Trubisky was the second overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft but struggled to live up to expectations during his time with the Chicago Bears.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Bills will be looking to see how their new additions perform. They signed defensive lineman Emmanuel Sanders and defensive end Mario Addison in free agency and drafted defensive end Gregory Rousseau in the first round of the draft. Fans will be looking to see if these players can help improve a defense that was already one of the best in the league last season.

For the Browns, all eyes will be on quarterback Baker Mayfield. After a rocky start to his career, Mayfield bounced back last season and led the Browns to the playoffs. He will be looking to build on that success this season and continue to improve as a quarterback. The Browns will also be looking to see how their new backup quarterback Case Keenum fits in with the team. Keenum has a history with Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, having played under him when he was the offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings.

The Browns will also be looking to see how their new additions perform on defense. They signed safety John Johnson III and cornerback Troy Hill in free agency and drafted linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah in the second round of the draft. Fans will be looking to see if these players can help improve a defense that struggled at times last season.

Overall, this preseason game between the Bills and Browns should be an exciting one. Both teams have high expectations for the season and fans will be anxious to see how the new additions to the roster perform. With limited snaps for the starters, younger players will have the opportunity to showcase their skills and make a case for a spot on the final roster. This game marks the start of the 45th season of Monday Night Football and fans are eagerly anticipating what promises to be another exciting season of football.