It is getting real as the troops have reported to camp and the Cleveland Browns hype train is gaining steam like we have never seen. Preseason kicks off against the Washington Redskins on August 8th and that will help to alleviate some of the pain we are all feeling waiting on the season. However, the good stuff starts on September 8th at home against the Tennessee Titans. Obviously, every Cleveland game is must see TV, but the five below stick out for a few different reasons.
5. Week 11, November 14 vs. Pittsburgh
Last season the Browns opened the season tying the Steelers 21-21, but James Conner scampered for 146 yards and two touchdowns during the second contest in October and this resulted in an extremely disappointing 18-33 loss. This season the first game for the divisional rivals is in November and in Cleveland, which means this game may have playoff implications. This game is more intriguing than usual, because Pittsburgh is clearly on the downturn with stars like Antonio Brown leaving, Ben Roethlisberger aging and locker room distractions becoming the norm. It appears it is Baker’s time to take the throne.
The Steelers have gone to the playoffs in four of the last five years, winning the AFC North in three of those years, if Cleveland can hammer them on nationally televised Thursday Night Football, then they can take claim to being the most dangerous team in the division.
4. Week 2, September 16 @ N.Y. Jets
The week three game against the Jets last year will go down in Cleveland history as the day Baker Mayfield presented himself as the savior. The Browns barely squeaked out a 21-17 victory, but that win meant so much more. This season the two clubs face off in week two on Monday Night Football and both teams should be much improved. Leading up to the 2018 NFL Draft the big debate was between Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield and Baker is looking to make it 2-0 against his rival.
This game is also extremely interesting due to new Cleveland head coach, Freddie Kitchens facing off against former interim head coach and annoying personality, Gregg Williams, who is now the defensive coordinator for the Jets. Another part of this match-up is another former Browns assistant and textbook definition of nepotism, Blake Williams, who is now riding his father’s coattails to a new destination.
3. Week 14, December 8 vs. Cincinnati
I tried not to focus on divisional games, but this one is another juicy contest where the Browns can really showcase who they are. I know the Browns swept this squad last season, but there is a shocking amount of optimism coming out of Cincinnati. By the time Week 14 rolls around, we should have a strong idea of who these two teams are and it may be more of a blockbuster game than people think.
There has been nothing but positives said about new Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor and there are a few people that believe he can really turn this offense into a powerhouse and that may occur sooner rather than later considering they have A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd and Joe Mixon to work with and if Taylor can get anything out of speedster John Ross, then this can be a dangerous offense.
2. Week 3, September 22 vs. L.A. Rams
This is obvious right? This is an early-season contest against a Super Bowl contender, there is no better barometer. If the Browns can stop the high powered Rams offense, than the Browns will have shown the NFL that they are legit on nationally televised Sunday Night Football. This will be the first Sunday Night Football game for Cleveland since 2008 and watching how Freddie Kitchens and his crew react to the atmosphere will be something to watch.
1. Week 8, October 27 @ New England
If playing the Super Bowl loser is number two on this list than the Super Bowl champion is obviously number one. Cleveland will be coming off of a week seven bye week when they take on New England in unfriendly confines. Tom Brady is largely seen as the GOAT and we all saw that cheesy NFL 100 commercial, where Brady hands his rings to Baker. It is just a silly narrative, but if the Browns can leave New England with a W than that says a lot.
