Hard Knocks preview: Cleveland Browns open preseason with a big win

After the Hard Knocks season premiere, the preview for the second episode indicated it would include footage from the first preseason game as the Cleveland Browns took on the New York Giants.

That game took place on Thursday night and it looks like the second episode will have a lot of high points for the 2018 Cleveland Browns.

The Browns opened the preseason by beating the Giants, 20-10.

More from Show Snob

• The Santa Clauses season 2, episode 6 recap “Wanga Banga Langa!”
• Lawmen: Bass Reeves season 1, episode 7 preview: Non-spoiler thoughts for Part VII
• Goosebumps season 1, episode 6 recap: “Night of the Living Dummy”
• Beacon 23 season 1, episode 3 recap: “Why Can’t We Go on as Three?”
• Upload season 3, episode 2 recap: “Strawberry”

The game had one very huge storyline. The top overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft — Baker Mayfield — took the field for the first time for the Browns while the second overall pick — Saquon Barkley — did as well for the Giants.

Barkley looked great off the bat, bursting out for a 39-yard run on his very first NFL carry. However, and this will make Browns fans happy, Baker Mayfield looked like a star.

One of the stories on Hard Knocks this season will be the rookie Mayfield pushing the new Browns’ starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor for the job. However, both players looked great in this game and Taylor is in no danger of losing his job.

Taylor opened the game and went five-for-five for 99 yards and a touchdown.

Mayfield then came in and played until the start of the fourth quarter. Mayfield finished by completing 11 for 20 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 11 yards, converting two fourth downs by running, and looked poised and confident in the pocket.

“I thought he did some good things out there,” Cleveland coach Hue Jackson said. “I’m honestly not surprised by anything Baker does. This was his first opportunity and he’ll grow from it.”

The Browns defense also limited the New York Giants to just 10 points, and that should be a nice point of emphasis on Hard Knocks next week.

There were also rumors that the Cleveland Browns have reached out to former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant but he has not returned any of their phone calls, so one wonders if that will play out on the second episode of the show as well.

The second episode of Hard Knocks airs on Aug. 15 at 10 p.m. EST. If you missed it, watch the season premiere for free at HBO.com.