Nine years ago, Vikings QB Carson Wentz got his first NFL start as a member of the Eagles against the Browns to open the 2016 season.

Now, QB Dillon Gabriel is going to get his first NFL start against Wentz and the Vikings. Going into the matchup between Cleveland and Minnesota in London on Oct. 5, the Vikings turned their attention to Gabriel as he prepares to lead the Browns' offense.

"It's been a while for me, but I remember (starting my first game) like it was yesterday, a lot of emotions, a lot of excitement," Wentz said. "Everybody kind of handles those things differently and all those things. So, I know it's an exciting time for him and for his family, but for him, I know it'll be a big moment."

Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell remembers scouting Gabriel during the pre-draft process and getting to know him as both a player and a person. He pointed out that Gabriel has the ability to make all the throws. In Gabriel's final two college seasons, he completed 69 percent or more of his passes and threw for a combined 7,517 yards. During the same period, he also scrambled when needed, running for 522 yards and scoring 19 rushing touchdowns.

"He has really unique athleticism, quickness in the pocket to evade the rush and has always been able to make plays on schedule and also be a weapon off schedule," O'Connell said. "We're going to have to make sure we can adapt to that athleticism and still find a way to contain him."

Even though he has the ability to, Vikings LB Jonathan Greenard said he doesn't think that the Browns want Gabriel to have to use his legs and want him to play from the pocket. However, he does think that Gabriel's athleticism will allow the Browns to call more dynamic plays via play action to get him to the perimeter of the field.

While Gabriel presents different challenges than QB Joe Flacco, Greenard said Gabriel still has to face the Vikings' defense. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores employs blitzes and disguises to try and confuse the quarterback both pre- and post-snap. In his first start, Gabriel will attempt to diagnose that defense and what comes with it.

"He's going to obviously have to deal with our defense, but at the end of the day, I'm pretty sure they have a good game plan over there, so we don't look at it as any less of an opponent," Greenard said.

Greenard also looked to the Browns' run game and RB Quinshon Judkins as a potential problem for Minnesota. Through four games, the Vikings have had trouble stopping the run, giving up more than 130 rushing yards per game, the ninth-most in the NFL.

According to the Vikings linebacker, Judkins is a powerful runner who can make guys miss due to his physicality. Since making his debut against the Ravens in Week 2, he has run for 237 yards and is fifth in the league in rushing yards per game. Greenard pointed to Judkins' 31-yard run in the fourth quarter against the Ravens where he made four defenders miss as evidence of his abilities.

"That just shows you his contact balance and the trust that they have in him," Greenard said. "He's going to be their hard-nosed guy that kind of gets those grimy yards, so we just have to make sure that we get multiple hats on him because obviously he can be very explosive."

On the other side of the ball, another explosive player the Vikings are wary of is DE Myles Garrett. According to O'Connell, Garrett heads one of the best defenses in the NFL. Garrett leads the NFL in tackles for loss and is a sack behind Giants OLB Brian Burns and Rams OLB Byron Young for the lead in the category.

As a quarterback, Wentz said Garrett is as good as it gets defensively. He noted that he'll have to do his part to help guys make plays and move them around to limit Garrett's impact.

"So much respect for him, both as a player and as a person so I think it'll be fun. Obviously, we all have our work cut out for us," Wentz said. "Very aware of where he's at. I think we'd be lying if we didn't say that. It's something that you definitely respect and you're aware and you think through those things, but at the end of the day, I'm confident in our guys as well,"

Despite Garrett and the Browns' defense, O'Connell was focused on the Vikings' offense needing to come out in London and perform. A week after turning the ball over twice against the Steelers in a 24-21 loss, he emphasized the need to get the little details right and create momentum offensively to win.

"It's still in so many ways about us and our ability to go out there and play and execute the way we need to," O'Connell said.