Packers set for second game

GREEN BAY (AP) — Even in the preseason, this one looks like a mismatch.

The Packers, considered by many the most elite of teams heading toward the regular season, host the Browns on Thursday night. While Green Bay does have some defensive issues from last year to solve and is thin at running back right now, Cleveland is seeking answers everywhere.

That search continues as the second week of the exhibition schedule kicks off at Lambeau Field and in Atlanta, where the Bengals visit the Falcons.

The Browns (No. 30 in the AP Pro32) come off a 19-17 loss to Detroit in which first-round pick Brandon Weeden struggled. He fumbled, threw an interception and was 3 for 9 for 62 yards in his debut. But he says it didn’t affect his confidence.

“The mistakes I made were so small that they’re easy fixes. I work on them every day after practice now,” Weeden said.

Green Bay (No. 1), coming off a 15-1 season, addressed a perceived need this week by signing veteran running back Cedric Benson. The Packers, 21-13 losers to San Diego last weekend, already were without James Starks because of a turf toe injury, and second-year back Alex Green is returning from major knee injury. On Monday, they lost John Kuhn to an ankle sprain.

Benson rushed for more than 1,000 yards in three of the last four seasons in Cincinnati, which did not re-sign him.

“Year to year in this business, guys always have something to prove, you know?” Benson said. “There’s a tendency of, ‘What have you shown me lately? What have you done for me lately?’ You’re always out to leave your stamp on the game every season.”

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