Cleveland Browns 2022 schedule: Least worrisome 3-game stretch
By Greg Newland
No 1. Cleveland Browns at Carolina Panthers
After getting the short end of the stick in 2021 and opening vs. the Kansas City Chiefs, the NFL was very friendly towards the Cleveland Browns in 2022. In fact, the three (even four) easiest games come in the first quarter of the season.
After adding Sam Darnold in the offseason of 2021, the Panthers had high hopes they could fix the former first-round pick who struggled with the Jets. Unfortunately, they found out it wasn’t just the Jets who were broke, as Darnold struggled mightily in the 2021 season.
Before taking Matt Corral in the 2022 draft, there were some pretty solid rumors flying that the Panthers were going to take a shot on Baker Mayfield and have two former top-three picks from 2018 on their roster at quarterback.
While the Panthers are still a landing option for Mayfield, I don’t think the Browns are willing to take on the salary requested for the deal to ever work. The Panthers aren’t a bad team, but if the Browns are going to have a chance to make a deep playoff run, this is one of those games that you must win.
Every fan in the NFL will love this to be Mayfield vs. the Browns, but I’m still not a believer that is going to happen.