Aug 23, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns free safety Tashaun Gipson (39) during player introductions before the game against the St. Louis Rams at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
With the Cleveland Browns roster all but set for the 2015 season, it’s time to take a look at the season schedule and play the schedule game.
What is the schedule game you may ask? It is where we take a game-by-game look at the 2015 season, evaluate the opponent each week and give an early prediction for each game.
The Browns schedule currently sits ninth in the strength of schedule rankings, according to cbssports.com, with an opponents’ win percentage of .543. Within the AFC North, the Pittsburgh Steelers are ranked No. 1 at .579, the Cincinnati Bengals are No. 2 at .563 and the Baltimore Ravens come in at No. 11 at .539.
The Browns schedule is no cake walk as they face their usual AFC North foes twice, along with the NFC West and AFC west through the 2015 season. Let’s take a game-by-game look and predict where we see the record being for the Browns at the finish of the 2015 season.
Next: Weeks 1-4
May 26, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans first round draft pick quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) passes during OTA drills at Saint Thomas Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Sept. 13, 2015 @ NY Jets
The Browns travel to the Meadowlands to open the 2015 season against the Jets. The Jets have a new coach in Todd Bowles and a retooled secondary as they brought in the likes of Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and former Brown Buster Skrine. The Jets will pride themselves on defense in 2015, while looking to Geno Smith to manage the game and not make turnovers. For some reason, first-year head coaches perform well against the Browns, but I’m going against the grain here. Browns 17, Jets 13
Sept. 20, 2015 vs. Tennessee Titans
In the 2015 home opener the Browns host rookie QB Marcus Mariota and the Titans down at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Titans, coming off a 2-14 season in 2014, boast a retooled receiving core with the additions of Hakeem Nicks and Dorial Green-Beckham to Kendall Wright. Couple that with Mariota behind center and the Titans have the makings of a deep-threat offense that is capable of racking up the points fast. Unfortunately, they run into a Browns secondary that will nullify the passing game. Browns debunk the home opener curse in this one. Browns 24, Titans 16
Sept. 27, 2015 vs. Oakland Raiders
Derek Carr brings his Oakland Raiders to town for a Week 3 matchup. Carr comes in with new weapons at wide receiver in Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree to throw the ball to. Besides that, the Raiders are a bit of an unknown. The defense is old but sprinkled with young talent such as Khalil Mack and DJ Hayden, but the question is how will the veterans hold up during the course of the season. The Raiders are still the Raiders. Browns 31, Raiders 20
Oct. 4, 2015 @ San Diego Chargers
The Browns make the cross-country trip to beautiful San Diego to face Phillip Rivers and the Chargers in week 4. Rivers is still an elite QB in the NFL and the Chargers added RB Melvin Gordon via the NFL Draft this year, along with returning veteran TE Antonio Gates. The Chargers are coming off a 9-7 campaign in 2014 and are an AFC West contender in 2015. The West Coast trip seems to be a lot for teams travelling from the East Coast, so expect the Browns to struggle in San Diego. Chargers 28, Browns 16
Next: Weeks 5-8
Nov 9, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) runs with the ball during the second half against the St. Louis Rams at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Oct. 11, 2015 @ Baltimore Ravens
After a trip out west a week prior, the Browns must travel to Baltimore and take on the hated Ravens in Week 5. The division rival and arch nemesis boasts the most formidable offense and defense the Browns will face to this point of the season. One of the bullies of the AFC North, the Ravens offense can be explosive with Joe Flacco at the helm and veteran WR Steve Smith streaking down field, while on defense linebackers Terrell Suggs and up-and-comer C.J. Mosley wreak havoc on opposing offenses. The Browns competed with the Ravens in 2014 and probably would have beaten them twice if their quarterback play didn’t buckle down the stretch in each game. Personally, I don’t have a great feeling about Josh McCown’s first AFC North match-up. Ravens 31, Browns 13
Oct. 18, 2015 vs. Denver Broncos
In probably his last visit to Cleveland in his career, Peyton Manning brings his Denver Broncos to town for a Week 6 match-up down on the lakefront. The Broncos come in with a new coach, Gary Kubiak, but basically the same team they fielded the past few seasons. Sure, Wes Welker and Julius Thomas bolted, but when you have Manning at the helm you always have weapons as he elevates everyone’s game around him. If this game was later in the year I’d probably take the Browns since Manning struggles in the cold, but in mid-October I see the Broncos beginning to hit their stride. The Browns should keep it close and beat them up, but Manning leads them on a drive to prevail in the end. Broncos 38, Browns 31
Oct. 25, 2015 @ St. Louis Rams
In what may be their last time travelling to St. Louis to face the Rams (the Rams are rumored to be one of several teams to be interested in moving to Los Angeles) the Browns look to bounce back after three consecutive losses. The Rams retooled their offense this past offseason as they traded quarterback Sam Bradford for quarterback Nick Foles and drafted RB Todd Gurley. The Rams defense is young and hungry, with their defensive line being the strongest unit. Luckily, the Browns offensive line is one of their strengths, and look for the Browns defense to outperform the Rams defense. Browns 17, Rams 13
Nov. 1, 2015 vs. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals come into FirstEnergy Stadium right as the weather begins to grow cold. The warm weather red birds fly into town with Larry Fitzgerald and Carson Palmer leading Bruce Arians’ high-flying offensive attack. Well that’s if Palmer can remain healthy coming off last year’s knee injury. The Cardinals also have a top flight secondary led by Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu, who are sure to give the Browns QB fits. All reasons to predict a Cardinals win, but I can’t see it. Browns 27, Cardinals 20
Next: Weeks 9-13
Sep 7, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) is sacked by Cleveland Browns linebacker Chris Kirksey (58) and defensive lineman Armonty Bryant (95) during the second half at Heinz Field. Pittsburgh won the game, 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
Nov. 5, 2015 @ Cincinnati Bengals (Thursday Night Football)
For the second year in a row the Battle of Ohio takes center stage in prime time as the Bengals host the Browns at Paul Brown Stadium. Andy Dalton, A.J. Green and Company look to avenge the drubbing the Browns defense laid on them in their last visit to the Queen City. Look for the Browns to come in flying high off two consecutive wins and pumped to be on prime time, but run out of gas on a short week. Bengals 24, Browns 21
Nov. 15, 2015 @ Pittsburgh Steelers
The NFL did the Browns no favors scheduling both matchups against the Steelers late in the year. Cleveland travels to Pittsburgh in Week 10 to face their arch nemesis the Steelers and Ben Roethlisberger. Antonio Brown has owned Joe Haden as of late, and the Steelers defense historically has feasted on the Browns offense. The Browns winning streak comes to a halt in the Steel City. Steelers 28, Browns 13
Nov. 22, 2015 Bye Week
The Browns lick their collective wounds after a 5-5 start and get ready for a six-game gauntlet to end the year.
Nov. 30, 2015 vs. Baltimore Ravens (Monday Night Football)
The Ravens fly into town for the Browns first home appearance on MNF since the 2008 season, when they beat the reigning Super Bowl champion New York Giants in electric fashion. The Browns should benefit from the bye week off, and I can’t see them losing their first MNF game at home in seven years. Browns 31, Ravens 16
Dec. 6, 2015, vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The fourth straight AFC North game culminates with the Bengals coming into Cleveland the first weekend of December. The Browns won’t forget the bad taste they were left with in their mouths after dropping the game to the Bengals just three weeks earlier. Look for the Browns defense to take out its frustrations on the Bengals. Browns 24, Bengals 12
Next: Weeks 14-17
January 10, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) reacts after free safety Earl Thomas (29) intercepts a pass against the Carolina Panthers during the first half in the 2014 NFC Divisional playoff football game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec. 13, 2015 vs. San Francisco 49ers
This is not the same 49ers teams of the last few years. Coach Jim Harbaugh resigned after the season and took the head coaching job at the University of Michigan. Multiple defensive players opted for retirement, including defensive leader Patrick Willis. The 49ers are as big of a question mark as any team entering the 2015 season. Colin Kaepernick is a game changer at quarterback, but the question marks with the rest of the offense and the new-look defense is what keeps the 49ers somewhat of a mystery. Coming into Cleveland in mid-December to face a strong Browns defense and a raucous Dawg Pound crowd doesn’t play in their favor, either. Browns 20, 49ers 17
Dec. 20, 2015 @ Seattle Seahawks
A trip to the Northwest to face the Seahawks in Seattle is never fun. The Seahawks hold one of the top home-field advantages in sports, along with a ferocious defense led by CB Richard Sherman. Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch spearhead the offensive attack along with new addition TE Jimmy Graham. The Browns struggle after a long flight west and are steamrolled by the Seahawks. Seahawks 33, Browns 13
Dec. 27, 2015 @ Kansas City Chiefs
From one top home-field advantage to another, the Browns travel to Kansas City and face the Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium in the second-to-last game of the regular season. Head Coach Andy Reid boasts an offense led by QB Alex Smith and star RB Jaamal Charles that has the ability to rack up points and quickly. The Kansas City defense is young and stout as well, led by OLB Tamba Hali and Company. The Browns struggle with the crowd noise and special teams on the day, dropping another road game. Chiefs 27, Browns 16
Jan. 3, 2016 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
The season comes to a close with the Steelers making their only visit to the lakefront. The Browns come into the finale 3-2 after the bye week, setting up a chance to finish the year with a win against their rival and an 8-8 record. On the opposing sideline, the Steelers come in needing a win to get into the playoffs. The Browns defense is hungry to avenge the loss earlier in the year in Pittsburgh and sends everyone home happy. Browns 20, Steelers 18
So there you have it. If it all plays out like we see it here, the Browns finish the year at 9-7, which is a two-game improvement over last season. They do probably miss the playoffs after finishing third in the division, but it looks to be a year in which they continue to progress and build upon the 7-9 finish of 2014.