As the Washington Redskins get closer to the start of another season, Redskins.com will preview all 16 of the team's regular season games, continuing with today's look against the Cleveland Browns.
The Browns are hoping to start anew under head coach Hue Jackson, who joined Cleveland in January after two seasons as the Cincinnati Bengals' offensive coordinator. At quarterback, Robert Griffin III could be making his first start as a visitor to FedExField.
Result of last game vs. Cleveland: Won 38-21 on Dec. 16, 2012
Cleveland's Key Additions: QB Robert Griffin III, LB Demario Davis, S Rahim Moore; Drafted WR Corey Coleman (Baylor), DE Emmanuel Ogbah (Oklahoma St.), QB Cody Kessler (USC), DE Carl Nassib (Penn St.), T Shon Coleman (Auburn)
Cleveland's Key Subtractions: C Alex Mack (free agent/Falcons), S Tashaun Gipson (free agent/Jaguars), T Mitchell Schwartz (free agent/Chiefs), WR Travis Benjamin (free agent/Chargers), LB Karlos Dansby (free agent Bengals), S Donte Whitner (waived), QB Johnny Manziel (waived)
Cleveland's Pro Bowlers: TE Gary Barnidge, T Joe Thomas
The Washington Redskins will return to FedExField for a Week 4 matchup with the Cleveland Browns that could potentially see the team's two quarterbacks drafted in 2012 start head-to-head against each other for the first time.
In 2012, the Redskins selected Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III with the No. 2-overall pick followed by the selection of Michigan State's Kirk Cousins in the fourth round.
Griffin III would go on to have a record-breaking rookie season, as he threw for 3,200 yards and 20 touchdowns to just five interceptions along with 815 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
But with Cousins' strong showing throughout the 2015 offseason and preseason schedule, he was announced as the Redskins' starting quarterback last year while Griffin III was active for just one game all year, but did not play a single snap.
The Washington Redskins and Cleveland Browns have met 45 times during the regular season. A look at some of those games.
On March 7, the Redskins announced Griffin III's release. Two weeks later, he was a member of the Browns.
Cleveland's hope is that Griffin III can help re-ignite an offense that threw just 20 passing touchdowns last season and averaged slightly more than 235 passing yards per contest.
The Browns used five of their 14 draft picks in the 2016 NFL Draft on wide receivers, including first-round pick Corey Coleman.
The offensive line will also look markedly different during the 2016 season.
While nine-time Pro Bowler Joe Thomas will continue to anchor the left side of the Browns' line, center Alex Mack and tackle Mitchell Schwartz – two full-time starters over the last four seasons – both left in free agency.
Defensively, the Browns' most notable player is two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Joe Haden.
Haden, a first-round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, has totaled 329 tackles with 89 passes defensed, 16 interceptions and four fumbles forced in his career.
The University of Florida product appeared in just five games last season, though, as he dealt with a concussion.
Haden is one of four former defensive first-round picks made by the Browns that are currently on the roster, as he's joined by defensive lineman Danny Shelton, linebacker Barkevious Mingo and cornerback Justin Gilbert.
Cleveland's second- and third-round picks were made to help bolster a pass rush that generated the fifth fewest sacks last season, as the team picked Emmanuel Ogbah and Carl Nassib with those selections.
Redskins 2016 Season Previews--Pittsburgh Steelers, Week 1
--Dallas Cowboys, Week 2
--New York Giants, Week 3
