Browns’ 2011 Schedule Released, Open Against Cincinnati Bengals

The NFL has released its 2011 regular season schedules, and, at first glance, the Cleveland Browns would appear to have an easier

schedule than the murderer’s row they experienced during the middle portion of last season. That, of course, can all change as the season progresses, but it never hurts to have to play the NFC West.

Oddly enough, the Browns only play one divisional game in the first two months of the season, and the first – against the Cincinnati Bengals – comes at home in the season opener. The team closes out the season with four of its last five games coming against either the Baltimore Ravens or Pittsburgh Steelers. If the Browns are in the hunt for a playoff spot, this could be an exciting time of the year, but with the way the Ravens and Steelers traditionally use the Browns as a rag doll, it could also be a frustrating time of the year.

Additionally, the Browns only have one prime-time game this season, and it comes in the form of another Thursday night game against the Pittsburgh Steelers (Dec. 8).

What do you think about the schedule? What are your early predictions for the Browns’ overall record?

The full 2011 schedule for the Cleveland Browns goes something like this:

September 11 – Cincinnati Bengals, 1:00 pm

September 18 – at Indianapolis Colts, 1:00 pm

September 25 – Miami Dolphins, 1:00 pm

October 2 – Tennessee Titans, 1:00 pm

October 9 – Bye

October 16 – at Oakland Raiders, 4:05 pm

October 23 – Seattle Seahawks, 1:00 pm

October 30 – at San Francisco 49ers, 4:15 pm

November 6 – at Houston Texans, 1:00 pm

November 13 – St. Louis Rams, 1:00 pm

November 20 – Jacksonville Jaguars, 1:00 pm

November 27 – at Cincinnati Bengals, 1:00 pm

December 4 – Baltimore Ravens, 1:00 pm

December 8 (Thursday) – at Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:20 pm

December 18 – at Arizona Cardinals, 4:15 pm

December 24 (Saturday) – at Baltimore Ravens, 1:00 pm

January 1 – Pittsburgh Steelers, 1:00 pm