Cleveland Browns 2022 schedule: Least worrisome 3-game stretch
By Greg Newland
The Cleveland Browns head into the 2022 season with high expectations. In order to live up to that, they must utilize this easy 3 game stretch.
The only good news about the Cleveland Browns finishing in third place in the AFC North in 2021 is they drew a third-place schedule for 2022. After one of the more disappointing seasons in recent history, Kevin Stefanski and the entire organization are ready to turn the page.
It will likely be a new-look offense with Deshaun Watson at quarterback. While Stefanski will certainly still utilize Nick Chubb, who is as good of a running back as the NFL has right now, there is no doubt that he will be trying to push the ball down the field more and more with Watson.
The real question that no one knows the answer to is, will Watson be suspended to start the season? The recent rumor mill is the suspension may not come until 2023 because the civil suites won’t be handled until after the season. The real wildcard is if commission Roger Goodell will put him on the exempt list.
Let me be clear, I don’t think that is likely, but it’s certainly something that Andrew Berry and Stefanski have considered. This team is loaded with talent, but we all know it takes an elite quarterback to have a chance to win a Super Bowl. If Watson is suspended this team goes from a contender to a pretender.
Do you want to know a crazy stat? The Browns last won a season opener in week one of 2004.
Other than that, they are 1-21-1 since their return in 1999. That Week 1 victory in 2004 vs. the Baltimore Ravens could be the second season opener win after 2022. Below is the easiest stretch of the Browns 2022 schedule which just happens to start in Week 1.