Old friends, we meet again. Two weeks after the Eagles traveled to Cleveland for the third preseason game, the Eagles' 2012 season will get underway on Sunday afternoon, September 9 at 1 PM. Andy Reid and company will open up this year's campaign on the road against a team run by Reid's mentor (Browns President Mike Holmgren), his former general manager (Browns general manager Tom Heckert) and his former assistant (Browns head coach, and one time Eagles quarterbacks coach Pat Shurmur).

Not only that, but the Browns currently have five former Eagles on their active roster in cornerback Sheldon Brown, defensive end Juqua Parker, cornerback Dimitri Patterson, wide receiver Jordan Norwood and tight end Alex Smith (linebacker Chris Gocong is also on injured reserve). When you add that familiarity to a full offseason of preparation for Week 1, the Eagles should be more than ready for what's to come.
But the Browns face some big questions heading into Week 1. Rookie running back Trent Richardson, the third overall pick in April's NFL Draft, returned to practice early this week after missing a few weeks following a knee scope. Richardson's status remains up in the air, though Shurmur has said that if Richardson does suit up, he, and not Montario Hardesty, will be the starter. Whichever running back gets the call will be joined in the backfield by another rookie, 28-year-old Brandon Weeden, himself a first-round pick. Whether Weeden plays in a fashion indicative of his experience level or his age remains up in the air.

Also up in the air is the status of star cornerback Joe Haden, who has been rumored to be facing a possible four-game suspension that could begin as soon as this week. Losing Haden would significantly affect the Browns' ability to handle the deep speed of DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. The situations surrounding Richardson and Haden are only piled on to the absence of defensive tackle Phil Taylor (PUP) and linebacker Scott Fujita (suspended).

As for the Eagles, the goal is to start strong. With Jason Babin and Michael Vick practicing at full strength, the Eagles as close to fully healthy as an NFL team can be. There are nine different starters among this year's 22 on offense and defense from a year ago, but only two of them (linebackers DeMeco Ryans and Mychal Kendricks) are truly new faces. As both teams look to start their 2012 season off on the right note, make no mistake: facing off for the second time in three weeks, familiarity is sure to breed plenty of contempt.

Last Time They Met

December 15, 2008 – Eagles 30, Browns 10

Game Recap: The Eagles won their third game in a row to set themselves up for a surprising playoff push thanks to three David Akers field goals, a 50-yard Asante Samuel  return for a touchdown and 290 yards passing from Donovan McNabb. The defense was dominant, holding the Browns under 200 total yards.

When The Eagles Have The Ball

Don't be fooled by last year's record. The Cleveland Browns might have finished 4-12 in 2011, but their defense kept them in almost every game. Cleveland ranked fifth in points allowed and had the second-best pass defense in the league.

The Eagles, however, will catch a break due to injury and suspension. Stout defensive tackle Phil Taylor, the Browns' first-round pick in 2011, is sidelined with a pectoral injury. Rookie John Hughes, a fourth-round pick out of Cincinnati, starts in his place alongside veteran Ahtyba Rubin, who generated 83 tackles and 5.0 sacks last season. The 330-pound Rubin will be a good test for center Jason Kelce.

At linebacker, a familiar face in former Eagle Chris Gocong is sidelined for the season with an Achilles injury. The player who replaced him might also be out. Rookie James Michael-Johnson could miss the season opener with an oblique injury. Rookie free agent L.J. Fort could be the starter on the strong side. Fort led the Browns in tackles during the preseason. The Browns are also without Scott Fujita, who is serving a three-game suspension for his role in bountygate.

The Browns' most talented player in the secondary is cornerback Joe Haden, who intercepted a Nick Foles pass in the preseason meeting two weeks ago. However, Haden was suspended for violating the league's policy against performance-enhancing substances, but he appealed and the league did not notify him to stop playing. Longtime Eagle Sheldon Brown is the starter opposite of Haden. If Haden is suspended, another former Eagle in Dimitri Patterson could start with Brown.

When The Browns Have The Ball

The Browns offense was anemic in 2011. On a per play basis, the Browns ranked 31st in rushing and 30th in passing. So it's no wonder, then, that management turned the page to promising rookies at quarterback and running back. Richardson is as talented a running back to come into the league in some time, and if he's fully healthy, he'll certainly test an Eagles run defense that was below standard at times last season. The addition of Ryans and Kendricks to the linebacking corps should help improve that run defense this season. Meanwhile, the expectations for the pass rush from the defensive line are through the roof. After leading the league in sacks a year ago, the Eagles added first-round pick Fletcher Cox, a healthy Brandon Graham and figures to get improved play from the other members of a 10-man crew in Jim Washburn's second season in charge. Browns left tackle Joe Thomas is among the best in the game, though he was victimized by Tapp for a sack/forced fumble during the preseason, while rookie Mitchell Schwartz holds down the right side.

In the secondary, it's a new era at two positions. Gone is Asante Samuel at left cornerback, where the talented Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is primed to introduce himself to Eagles nation as a dynamic outside cornerback. In the slot, rookie fourth-round pick Brandon Boykin is the man after the team parted ways with veteran Joselio Hanson during roster cutdowns. In Boykin's first regular season game, he'll be playing what is essentially a starting position while also handling kickoff return duties.

Importantly, this game will also mark the beginning of the second season in charge for defensive coordinator Juan Castillo. With a year of experience under his belt, Castillo figures to be more comfortable in calling the defense, something that bore out towards the end of the 2011 season when the Eagles allowed a paltry 11.5 points per game over the final four games. 

Key Matchups

RDE Trent Cole vs. LT Joe Thomas

Joe Thomas is widely considered one of the best left tackles in football, but his mettle will be tested early in the season against Trent Cole. Cole finished second on the team in sacks last year with 11, but is also dominant against the run. The last time these two faced off, Cole recorded four tackles and a sack. However, that was back in 2008 during Thomas' sophomore season. Since then, he has risen to the elite level, having been named to the Pro Bowl in five straight seasons. Cole is looking to start the season off on a strong note and will be challenged immediately by perhaps the best player he will face all season.

Eagles Coverage Units vs. WR Josh Cribbs

Josh Cribbs presents a great challenge for both the Eagles young kickers and special teams coach Bobby April's coverage units. Cribbs is the active leader in both kick return yardage (8,837) and kick return touchdowns (8), meaning second year kicker Alex Henry will be tested right out of the gate. Cribbs is also an ace on punt returns, recording one of his best seasons by returning 34 punts for 388 yards and a touchdown. However, last season was only the second time Cribbs failed to break 1,000 kick return yards or take a kick return to the house. This is good news for the Eagles, as they will be without special teams ace Colt Anderson as he rehabs from the ACL injury he sustained late last season.

Browns Players to Watch

RT Mitchell Schwartz

Rookie tackle Mitchell Schwartz will receive an abrupt welcome to the NFL this week. In his first regular season start Sunday, Schwartz will be matched up against sack artist Jason Babin and the Eagles' ferocious pass rush. But Schwartz is no slouch himself. At 6-5 and 318 pounds, the second-round pick from Cal is part of a talented young Cleveland offense that also features a rookie quarterback and running back. Schwartz has already earned praise from his teammates, as left tackle Joe Thomas praised his hard work and football smarts. Schwartz will need every edge he can get against an Eagles defense that was tied for the league lead in sacks last season with 50. For the Browns to win Sunday, they'll need to give rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden time to throw. And to do that, Schwartz will have to hold his own against the pass rush of Babin and the Eagles.

CB Sheldon Brown

Sheldon Brown was a fan favorite in Philadelphia, and for good reason. In eight years with the Eagles, Brown accumulated 351 tackles and 19 interceptions while being a mainstay on the defense. Though Brown, 33, is in the twilight of his career, he is still showing that he can play.  Last year Brown was targeted 76 times, allowing 35 completions, according to ProFootballFocus.com. However, Brown's deep speed is on the decline. In their Week 2 preseason matchup, rookie wide receiver Damaris Johnson soundly outran Brown for a 45 yard completion. And with speedsters DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin on the outside, it could be a long Sunday for Brown if he can't regain the shutdown ability he displayed with the Eagles.