3 early matchups to watch as the Chicago Bears take on the Cleveland Browns

2) Tremaine Edmunds vs. David Njoku

The Browns have relied heavily on their running game this year, so when Joe Flacco took over the starting job two weeks ago, it was assumed he would be playing the role of game manager for Kevin Stefanski.

In the words of Lee Corso, "Not so fast, my friend." Flacco has been slinging it, throwing the ball 89 times combined against the Rams and Jaguars. The team's top two receivers, Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore, have received 37 of those targets, but with how well the Bears secondary is playing, I'm confident that Jaylon Johnson and company will be able to contain them.

The matchup to watch here is middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds against David Njoku. Njoku obliterated the Jaguars on Sunday, pulling in six receptions for 91 yards and two touchdowns, and he did that all in the first half.

Njoku got himself wide open just over three minutes into the game for his first trip to the end zone, and he scored again on a 30-yarder early in the second quarter.

Njoku is a beast in the open field, and he made that stiff arm of Jaguars safety Andre Cisco look effortless. Keeping him from running amok will be key to containing Cleveland's offense.

That task will mostly fall to Tremaine Edmunds, who has been excellent in coverage lately. Edmunds has an interception in three of his last five games, and he's had a knack for always seeming to be in the right place at the right time lately.

With Jerome Ford and Kareem Hunt, the Browns have a strong running game, but the Bears are one of the best in the NFL at stopping teams on the ground. If Chicago can force Cleveland into being one-dimensional by making Joe Flacco beat them, Edmunds vs. Njoku will be the most pivotal matchup on the field when Cleveland has the ball, a case of strength vs. strength that will go a long way in determining the game's winner.