Should the winless Miami Dolphins (0-2) be double-digit favorites against anyone at this point?
According to early lines, the Dolphins are 10-point favorites to win their home opener against the Cleveland Browns (0-2) on Sunday. A major reason is that Cleveland is down to its third-string quarterback following shoulder injuries to Robert Griffin III and Josh McCown.
Miami hasn't put together a complete game on both sides of the football. Perhaps this is the week to do it against a Browns team that some believe is the worst in the NFL.
Here are six Cleveland players to watch, courtesy of ESPN Browns reporter Pat McManamon:
OFFENSE
QB Cody Kessler: Browns coach Hue Jackson had two words for the choice of USC's Kessler in the third round of this year's draft: trust me. Few had Kessler rated as third-round quality, and the Browns surprised many by taking him. The Browns pointed to Kessler's accuracy (67.4 completion percentage) and his ratio of 88 touchdowns to 19 interceptions in college as the main reason for taking him. The knocks? He's small and does not have the strongest arm. Kessler will be thrown in the pool with the dolphins -- and the sharks.
RB Isaiah Crowell: How do you help a young quarterback? Run the ball. During Sunday's loss to Baltimore, Crowell ran better than he has in a long time. His day included an 85-yard touchdown, the second longest run in Browns history, and another 15-yard run. For the game, Crowell totaled 133 yards on 18 carries for 7.4 yards per carry.
C John Greco: Regular starter Cam Erving is out with a bruised lung, so Greco slides over from right guard with Alvin Bailey moving in to replace Greco. Erving, one of the Browns' two first-round picks in 2015, has struggled this season. So while it's unfortunate he got hurt, the Browns may be better with Greco, a more hard-nosed player who will have little trouble with line calls. The problem: He's had limited playing time at center.
DEFENSE
CB Joe Haden: Haden looked like his old self against the Ravens, intercepting two passes and providing excellent coverage on others. ProFootballFocus.com reports Haden had nine passes thrown his way; four were completed, two were intercepted. If he is back to his old form, it's a huge boon to the Browns' defense because Haden can be assigned to the opposing team's best receiver.
NT Danny Shelton: Shelton has come on after struggling as a rookie. He had seven tackles against the Ravens and has been active in the middle of the field. ProFootballFocus.com reports Shelton stopped 30 percent of Baltimore's running plays on his own.
ILB Demario Davis: The Browns' key defensive free-agent signing showed up against the Ravens. Davis made a stop on a fourth-down run and also stopped a screen pass for a loss. He was active and aggressive in a productive game in which he led the Browns with nine tackles.
