Confident Browns eager for season

“This is it. Don’t get scared now.”

— Kevin McCallister from Home Alone

The Browns open their 2018 season at 1 p.m. Sept. 9 at FirstEnergy Stadium against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and for the first time in many years the confidence they are exuding is real.

Never mind the fact the Steelers are 33-6 against the Browns since 1999. Never mind the fact the Browns are 1-18 in season openers.

The Browns practiced well in training camp, they played well in preseason and all the primary players are healthy. In short, the team is eager to get things going and turn the page on the 0-16 record of last year, 1-31 over the last two years and 4-53 since the 11th game of 2014.

“I think we’re carrying ourselves with a different swag,” linebacker Christian Kirksey said. “I think we’re more confident. Not saying that we weren’t confident last year but I just think that we truly believe in the talent that we have in this room.”

The Steelers were 13-3 last season and, along with the Patriots, are favored to be atop the AFC when the conference championship game is played in January. But the Steelers are also without their star running

back Le’Veon Bell, who is resisting pressure to end his holdout and join the team.

Browns head coach Hue Jackson will not allow his players to get sucked into any of the Steelers’ inner turmoil. For once, the Browns are going into an opener without any brushfires to extinguish.

There is the matter of undrafted rookie Desmond Harrison making his second start at left tackle (his first was the final preseason game vs. the Lions Aug. 30). And the fact rookie cornerback Denzel Ward will be matched with All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown much of the time. Plus, Jackson is starting rookie wide receiver Antonio Callaway.

But the Browns have contingency plans for all those scenarios: Tight end Darren Fells can help Harrison, safety Damarious Randall can help Ward and Josh Gordon will be on the sideline, ready to step in for Callaway if he gets the nod from Todd Haley.