Browns vs. Falcons: Preseason Week 3

The Cleveland Browns travel south on Sunday to play the Atlanta Falcons in the final game of the preseason.

In a bit of a surprising twist, head coach Kevin Stefanski announced on Friday that quarterback Baker Mayfield and “select starters” will play in the game. Who else among the starters is playing, and for how long, is something only Stefanski knows at the moment, so Browns fans will be simultaneously excited to see the starters while also holding their breath that no one gets hurt.

The game is also the last chance for several players to show the Browns - and the rest of the NFL - what they have as teams must reduce their rosters from the current 80 players to 53 by 4 p.m. on August 31.

The Browns will look to close out a perfect preseason with a win, if you are scoring at home, so here is how to watch or listen to the game, plus a few things to keep an eye on as the Browns wrap up the preseason.

Game Info

Kickoff: 8 p.m.

Stadium: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta

TV: NBC as a national broadcast

Announcers: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michelle Tafoya (sidelines)

Radio: 92.3 The Fan (WKRK), ESPN 850 WKNR and WNCX (98.5)

Announcers: Jim Donovan, Doug Dieken, Nathan Zegura (sideline reporter)

Stream: Browns app, clevelandbrowns.com, NFL Game Pass

Last meeting: The Browns defeated the Falcons, 28-6, in Week 10 of 2018. Cleveland leads the all-time regular-season series, 12-3.

A Few Things to Watch For

The battle at wide receiver - The Browns are set at the top spots in the wide receiver rotation with Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Rashard Higgins and Anthony Schwartz. It is what comes next that is unknown.

Cleveland opened last season with six wide receivers, so if that number holds true this year, KhaDarel Hodge and JoJo Natson are fighting for the last spot. But if for some reason the Browns decide to keep rookie Demetric Felton - who is making the team — as a wide receiver rather than a running back, then tomorrow’s game could be the end for both Hodge and Natson in Cleveland.

There is also the case of Davion Davis, who will spend the first two weeks of the regular season on the suspension list. The Browns may or may not like Davis enough to keep him around after his suspension ends, so even if Hodge or Natson make the initial roster, their time in Cleveland may still prove to be a short stay.

What is happening at defensive tackle? - With the season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs looming on the horizon, this position group remains arguably the most unsettled on the Browns.

The only certainty, if such a thing is possible, is that veteran Malik Jackson is making the roster and will be starting on opening day. After that, anything is possible given how poorly this group has performed in the preseason.

Andrew Billings has shown little for fans to get excited about; Tommy Togiai has played like a rookie who is still figuring things out; Jordan Elliott has had his moments but been inconsistent; and while some fans are getting charged up about Malik McDowell’s performance against third- and fourth-stringers, it is still hard to count on someone with McDowell’s past.

Related: New bodies on the D-line? Several players have emerged from the pack

A case could actually be made that Sheldon Day has been the best of the bunch so far, and he has earned the trust of the coaching staff, which could go a long way when the roster cuts start rolling in.

Cleveland kept four defensive tackles last season, so if that holds true again this year there are several players who are going to be under the spotlight on Sunday against the Falcons.

Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Kick it - When the Browns placed kicker Cody Parkey on injured reserve earlier this week, the assumption was made that Chase McLaughlin had locked up the spot.

Working in his favor is that McLaughlin has converted almost 97 percent of his extra-point attempts (31-of-33) and almost 79 percent of his field goals (22-of-28) as he has traveled across the NFL kicking for five different teams before arriving in Cleveland.

Working against him is that McLaughlin is particularly weak from beyond the 40-yard-line, however, as he has only converted 10 field goals on 16 attempts beyond the 40, a rate of 62.5 percent.

Are general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski really prepared to trust McLaughlin during a season with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations?

McLaughlin will have his chance to calm those fears on Sunday night by showing he can handle the pressure and putting up a solid night.

These are just a few things to keep an eye on; now it is time to have your say. What are you looking for from the Browns in Sunday’s game against the Falcons?