At 1:00 p.m. today, two 0-2 teams, the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings will face off in search of their first win in 2013. Live stream the game here; Browns fans can hear the action on WONE 97.5 while Vikings fans can do the same on KFAN 100.3.
Today's game was expected to be a battle of physical running games, with Minnesota leaning on reigning MVP Adrian Peterson while the Browns chugged along behind the powerful Trent Richardson.
Those plans were dashed early this week, however, when Cleveland stunned the NFL by dealing Richardson to the Indianapolis Colts for a first-round draft pick. The Browns moved up in last year's draft to take Richardson, but that was under Mike Holmgren. Clearly, the new regime doesn't view him in the same light.
"This was more about the moment presented itself, and based on the situation the Colts found themselves in, it wasn't something where we could say, 'Can you wait three weeks to think about this or learn more?' We thought it was a move to make us better," Browns CEO Joe Banner said.
In addition to losing Richardson, starting quarterback Brandon Weeden will miss the game with a thumb injury, leaving the offense in the hands of third-string passer Brian Hoyer.
The Vikings haven't looked as inept as Cleveland this season, but they are 0-2 all the same. Luckily for them history might be on their side. According to ESPN, they were one of three teams in 2008 to overcome 0-2 starts and reach the playoffs. It hasn't happened since then, though.
"It's nice to know you're the last team to do that," said linebacker Chad Greenway. "But you can't look ahead and say we're just going to do it or the past is going to repeat itself. You have to put the work in and make the plays on Sunday."
Browns Injury Report:
Probable: T.J. Ward (S), Desmond Bryant (DT), Josh Cooper (WR)
Questionable: Ahtyba Rubin (DT)
Doubtful: Shaun Lauvao (G)
Out: Quentin Groves (LB), Brandon Weeden (QB)
Vikings Injury Report:
Probable: Kevin Williams (DT), Harrison Smith (S), Phil Loadholt (T), Fred Evans (DT), John Sullivan (C), Brandon Fusco (G), Mistral Raymond (S), Erin Henderson (LB)
Out: Rhett Ellison (TE)
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