Wherefore art thou, starters

Unless he already knows and isn't willing to share it just yet, it will be very interesting to see if Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski intends to play the entire exhibition season with his starting lineups as spectators.

After watching his roster's second-, third- and, on occasion, fourth-stringers rack up a 17-13 victory over the visiting New York Giants Sunday afternoon and remain unbeaten after the first two meaningless games, one wonders whether the exhibition finale down in Atlanta might see more of the same.

It would be most unusual if Stefanski uses the regular-season opener Sept. 12 in Kansas City to debut his very talented regulars, whose only work thus far has been in training camp in Berea. Even then, it has been against teammates.

There is an entirely different rhythm and pace to the regular season. Everything happens faster, quicker, more suddenly than in the preseason, especially this season with the absence of a fourth exhibition, which forced a fewNational Football League coaches to at least think about resting starters in all three games.

Common sense, however, would dictate giving Baker Mayfield and his merry men at least a few series against the Falcons just to get them mentally, emotionally and physically prepared to play against men wearing different uniforms. Same with Myles Garrett and his merry men on the opposite side of the ball.

To throw them into the 17-game cauldron called the regular season without exhibition work, especially against arguably the best team in the American Football Conference on the road, is a gamble, particularly on offense where timing is of the utmost importance.

Live action, even in exhibitions, is important just to experience the feel and pace of the game. You don't get that in training camp, where the  biggest goal is remaining healthy. At some point, the starters have to feel what it's like to face someone other than teammates.

Yes, it's important to note construction of roughly a third of the roster is determined in the exhibition season, fewer this year because the Browns are loaded with talent on both sides of the football with as many as 30 players slated to see the majority of the reps and another 10 or so good enough to step right in.

Most of the final choices to fill out the 53-man roster will be selected according to how valuable they are on special teams. Few regulars play on the various teams

The starters just can't sit out the entire preseason, then flip a switch, step in right there against a team like the Chiefs, who are aiming for their third straight Super Bowl appearance, and be competitive. This team doesn't team have the kind of talent to overcome something like that.

Also bear in mind this iteration of the franchise is notorious for losing regular-season openers, having won just one in the first 22 seasons since the NFL allowed them to return in 1999. Unless, that is,  you consider that tie with Pittsburgh a few years ago a moral victory.

Asked after the game whether the starters will play in Atlanta and, if so, how much, Stefanski demurred. "I will do that next week," he said.

Sunday's victory over the Giants produced an offensive performance that could be labeled spotty at best, in part because the backups struggled against a better defense than they faced in the easy victory last week in Jacksonville.

The defense, which produced zero sacks and zero quarterback hits in the first three quarters, actually made Giants backup quarterback journeyman Mike Glennon and rookie Brian Lewerke look decent. The defensive line finally found some pressure in the final quarter with a pair or sacks.

They reserved their best effort after the Giants scored their second touchdown midway through the final quarter and attempted a two-point conversion. After a pass inference penalty negated the first attempt, which failed, the Giants tried to take the lead with a running play from 18 inches.

After defensive tackle Malik McDowell forced running back Gary Brightwell to bounce the play outside, cornerback Brian Allen and linebacker Elijah Lee closed in and stuffed him well short of the goal line.

That unit also caused the Giants to punt on six of their nine possessions, including four in a row spanning the second and third quarters. There's something to be said for that even though the lack of a pass rush was notable against New York's backups. 

The teams traded first-quarter touchdowns on long drives, Case Keenum connecting with wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge on a seven-yard score, easily his best throw of the day to the tightly covered Hodge. He reserved his worst throw for the next possession.

Keenum, who piloted the first three series, needed 10 plays and 65 yards to get the Browns to third-and-six at the Giants' 10 early in the second quarter. He saw tight end Jordan Franks in the end zone on play 11. He somehow didn't see Giants cornerback Quincy Williams, who was standing directly in front of Franks, and threw the ball right to him.

"Did not like that interception down there in the red zone," Stefanski said. "We can't do that and he should not do that. He knows that."

Kyle Lauletta, who looked good against the Jaguars, took over at quarterback late in the first half and looked just so-so against the Giants, but took advantage of a short field to break the tie early in the third quarter.

A Jamie Gillan punt pinned the Giants deep in their territory. The subsequent punt after a three-and-out went out of bounds at the Cleveland 44. Four well-executed plays and 56 yards later, running back John Kelly scooted five yards for the score.

Lauletta opened the possession with two passes to fullback Johnny Stanton that ate up 33 yards. Kelly took care of the rest with gallops of 18 and the final five yards.

Kelly, who put up 58 yards on only nine carries, gathered in a short checkdown pass later in the game and broke four tackles en route to a 21-yard gain that led to a 49-yard Chase McLaughlin field goal. 

Now it's on to Atlanta and the guessing game with regard to the whether the starters play.