The Minnesota Vikings defense is known for its exotic pressure looks and pre-snap disguises. On Sunday, they’ll see how a former Heisman Trophy finalist deciphers those looks in his first career start.
The Cleveland Browns are 1-3 and are making a change at quarterback. Joe Flacco, the 40-year-old quarterback who was drafted the same year as Kevin O’Connell, is getting benched. The Browns are replacing him with rookie Dillon Gabriel, the 94th overall pick in last April’s draft.
Gabriel isn’t walking into a turn-key offense, either. The Browns have scored the second-fewest points in the league through four games, and they rank 27th in total offense.
Cleveland will likely try to lean on their running game to give Gabriel manageable third-down opportunities, but the Browns rank 30th in rushing offense. However, so did the Steelers when they faced the Vikings last Sunday, and they ran 29 times for 131 yards and two touchdowns.
Gabriel finished third in Heisman Trophy voting last year, finishing behind Colorado receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter and Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty. The Browns are hoping that Gabriel, their 41st different starting quarterback since 1999, can carry some of what made him great at Oregon last year to Cleveland’s offense on Sunday and beyond.