Lining up across from cornerbacks Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome II on Sept. 7 will be Bengals wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
The challenge of guarding Chase and Higgins isn't an unfamiliar one for Ward and Newsome, but it's one they have on their plates in the Browns' season opener against the Bengals. Sept. 7 will be the fifth time the pair of duos have all faced off since 2021, splitting the series 2-2.
"I enjoy these matchups," Ward said. "They have a high-powered offense. It's a division game and it's the first game of the season, so we're just trying to go and get that first win and that's the plan."
In 2023, the Browns opened the season at home against the Bengals in a game where Ward and Newsome locked down Chase and Higgins, and the Browns won 24-3. Chase was held to five receptions for 39 yards, while Higgins was held without a single catch despite being targeted eight times. Ward and Newsome combined for nine tackles and two passes defensed during the Browns' stifling defensive performance.
That kind of performance is one that is difficult to replicate. Chase has been held to under 39 yards just 11 other times in his career and Higgins has been held without a yard two other times.
QB Joe Burrow has consistent synergy with both receivers, but Chase especially, who he played with at LSU in 2018 and 2019. Since Burrow and Chase reunited in Cincinnati, the pair has connected 364 times for 5,016 yards and 45 touchdowns. The 5,016 yards make up more than 25 percent of Burrow's career passing yards and passing touchdowns to Chase make up more than 32 percent of his career touchdowns.
"(Ja'Marr Chase) and (Joe) Burrow are on a great page together," Ward said. "They know where each other are going to be and (Joe) Burrow, he's going to get the ball to him. So, that just makes it a great matchup and a great game."
Browse photos of the Cleveland Browns practicing at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus as they prepare for their Week 1 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Offensive lineman Cole Strange (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Offensive lineman Garrett Dellinger (52) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Defensive lineman Adin Huntington (98) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Running back Trayveon Williams (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Wide receiver DeAndre Carter (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Wide receiver Malachi Corley (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) and Bill Willis Diversity Fellow Michael Bearden during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Running back Raheim Sanders (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Defensive back Jarrick Bernard-Converse (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Tight end Brenden Bates (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Running back Ahmani Marshall (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Safety Christopher Edmonds (41) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Safety Rayshawn Jenkins (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) and Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Center Ethan Pocic (55) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Running back Raheim Sanders (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Running back Raheim Sanders (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Running back Trayveon Williams (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Running back Raheim Sanders (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Wide receiver DeAndre Carter (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Wide receiver Malachi Corley (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Offensive tackle KT Leveston (72) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Offensive lineman Cole Strange (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Running back Trayveon Williams (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Running back Raheim Sanders (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Running back Ahmani Marshall (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Safety Damontae Kazee (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Running back Trayveon Williams (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Running back Ahmani Marshall (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Wide receiver Malachi Corley (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
When teams can handle the chemistry that Chase and Burrow have with one another, they are still faced with the versatility that Chase brings to the field. Because of this versatility, Chase can line up in a variety of places on the field, including in the slot. Chase playing in different spots across the field allows both Ward and Newsome a chance to cover Chase and disrupt his and Burrow's connection with one another. As a result, Newsome acknowledged that he would also get his share of snaps facing the Bengals' top wideout but mentioned the responsibility that containing Higgins also brings to the matchup.
Higgins has notched 900-plus receiving yards in four of his five seasons in the NFL, including two 1,000-yard seasons in 2021 and 2022. According to Newsome, his talent forces teams to be unable to double cover Chase.
"Obviously Ja'Marr (Chase) is one of, if not the best receiver in the National Football League," Newsome said. "But without a guy like Tee Higgins, I don't think he would be able to do all that stuff. You can't just necessarily double him and think Tee Higgins won't go for 300 yards as well. So, I think Tee Higgins is definitely a very elite player."
The Ward and Newsome versus Chase and Higgins matchup isn't all about the four players, though. Heading into the week of practices for Week 1, head coach Kevin Stefanski made it a point to say that this game is going to take more than just about one player stopping another – it's an entire team effort.
"They're a great team. We have to focus obviously on (Chase and Higgins) and have their respect. And we also have to be about our business," Stefanski said. "We have to play with great fundamentals, play great team defense. This is the NFL. Guys love matchups like this. They love when there are great players across the field from them. So that's what our league is built upon."
Matchups across the field, like the Browns' defensive line going against the Bengals' offensive line, will help influence the battle in the secondary. Pressure from the front four will make Burrow's job hard and stop him from building momentum in the passing game. Collapsing Burrow's pocket also allows the corners to stick to their assignments and make it hard for him to make solid throws and connect with his receivers.
Even if the defensive line can get through to Burrow, Stefanski discussed how Burrow can adjust to any situation. Whether he's being blitzed or only four men are rushing him, he is composed. According to Stefanski, getting through to Burrow and making him have a hard day comes down to playing sound defense.
"This is a huge, huge challenge," Stefanski said. "It's a really good scheme. They have good players across the board. But we have to be about our business."
Physically, after the Browns have been about their business for almost two months of training camp and preseason games, Ward and Newsome are confident in the defense heading into Week 1. While being physically prepared for the matchup, Ward is also mentally ready, going into the game against the Bengals self-assured.
"It's going to be a tough matchup. Those are top guys at their positions, and they have great offense and a great team," Ward said. "I'm just going in with confidence. I'm at the top of my position as well, so I'm looking forward to the matchup and just going in there and competing. And like I said, most importantly trying to get the win. That's what I'm most focused on."
