CLEVELAND — After months of anticipation, the Cleveland Browns' highly anticipated 2019 season is almost here.
But first, there's one last preseason game for them to play.
On Thursday, the Browns will host the Detroit Lions in a preseason finale that will double as the latest installment of 'The Great Lakes Classic." Founded in 2002 by then-Browns CEO Carmen Policy, the GLC represented the annual preseason matchup between Cleveland and Detroit, who played for a bronze ship-like trophy officially called "The Great Lakes Freighter Trophy" that has since been nicknamed "The Barge."
After a three-year absence from the teams' schedules, "The Battle for the Barge" returned in 2018, with the Browns earning a 35-17 victory in Detroit. On Thursday, Cleveland will attempt to defend its trophy on its home turf in the final unofficial tune-up before next week's season opener.
With that in mind, here's everything you need to know about the Browns' preseason finale vs. the Lions:
Game info, how to watch on TV:
Date: August 29, 2019
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: FirstEnergy Stadium
TV channel: News 5
Radio: ESPN 850, 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 WNCX
Betting line: Cleveland -5
Over-under point total: 33.5
Storylines
Backups for The Barge
If the Browns are going to successfully defend The Barge on Thursday, they'll have to do it a lineup largely -- if not entirely -- comprised of backups. After previously remaining mum about specific playing time plans throughout the preseason, Cleveland head coach Freddie Kitchens revealed earlier this week that quarterback Baker Mayfield won't play at any point in the Browns' preseason finale.
“You will not see Baker,” Kitchens said following Tuesday’s practice.
That Kitchens even revealed as much about Mayfield is perhaps telling in regards to his plan for the rest of his key players. Although the Browns have taken a conservative approach throughout most of the preseason -- neither Odell Beckham Jr. nor Jarvis Landry have logged a single snap yet -- it appears Kitchens is prepared to pull back the reins even further on Thursday.
Instead, look for the Browns to rely on the bottom of the end of its depth chart on Thursday, which includes many players who will likely be cut when the team trims its roster from 90 to 53 on Saturday.
Going wide
While much of Thursday night might not resemble actual football, one position worth keeping an eye on for Cleveland against Detroit is the Browns' wide receivers.
Following Jaelen Strong's release earlier this week, Cleveland is still in the process of shaping how many wideouts it will keep on Saturday -- and which ones. Behind Beckham, Landry, Higgins and Antonio Callaway, there doesn't appear to be a wide receiver whose roster status is secure with little more than a week to go until the season opener.
One player to keep an eye on is Braxton Miller, whose tenure with the Browns is barely a week old. Nevertheless, the former Ohio State star appears to have already made a positive impression in his short time in Cleveland and could fill the void left by Callaway as he serves a four-game suspension to start the 2019 season.
“I think he is picking up the offense," Kitchens said of Miller. "That tells you a little bit about his learning ability. We will see if we can put him in some positions to make some plays Thursday night. He is doing well, though.”
Final 53
For the first time in what seems like a long time, there won't be many roster spots on the line in the Browns' preseason finale. All things considered, Cleveland's roster is pretty well set, except for the outcome of a few yet to be decided position battles.
At kicker, Greg Joseph and Austin Seibert will make their final cases to be the Browns' starter to open the season with the other almost certain to be waived on Sunday. Entering Thursday, Seibert appears to have gained a leg up in the competition after the fifth-round pick made all four of his field goal attempts in Cleveland's 13-12 loss to Tampa Bay last week.
As for right guard, veteran Eric Kush seems to have established himself as the Browns' starter, although rookie Drew Forbes is still making his case. Perhaps the most interesting thing to keep an eye on in Cleveland on Thursday is how much Austin Corbett plays as the former second-round pick seems to have gone from presumed starter to on the bubble of even making the Browns' 53-man roster.
What's on the line?
In each of my first three preseason previews, I've listed "staying healthy" as a major objective and this week is no different.
In fact, with the season opener just 10 days away, Thursday night marks the most important exhibition for the Browns when it comes to leaving the stadium still at full strength.
With that in mind, aside from a few bottom of the depth chart roster spots, the only thing on the line against the Lions for the Browns is how healthy they'll be when they face the Tennessee Titans next week.
Well, that and The Barge. After all, this is the Great Lakes Classic.