It's finally here. The 2023 NFL Schedule release is live and that means we know what the Cleveland Browns schedule is going to be.
Before the unveiling, it became known that Cleveland was going to open the season at home against the Cincinnati Bengals. They will then head to Pittsburgh in Week 2, to take on the Steelers on Monday Night Football. They have one other prime-time game, which is in Week 17 when they host the New York Jets — now led by Aaron Rodgers.
With those games and all others now known, let's now look at each game with a week-by-week prediction.
Cleveland Browns schedule and prediction
Week 1: Bengals at Browns
The "we have Joe Burrow's number" talk has died down since he led the Bengals to a 23-10 win in Week 14 last season. Since then, the Bengals have gotten even better — which is a bit scary.
They added Orlando Brown in free agency and then drafted Myles Murphy at defensive end, Jordan Battle at safety, and Chase Brown at running back. That's a rather impressive haul for a team that was already one of the best in the AFC.
When Cleveland faces Cincy for the first time this season, it's going to be a measuring stick for them. Not only will they see where they are in the AFC North but also the AFC as a whole. That pressure might be too much for them to start off the season — remember, it will take time for this defense to mesh, and playing Burrow is never easy. Cincy wins but that makes their re-match even more important.
Final Score: Bengals 26, Browns 17
Week 2: Browns at Steelers (Monday Night Football)
During the 2022 season, we tried to warn everyone about writing off the Steelers. Do we want them to be terrible? Absolutely. Are they? No, far from it.
While they didn't make the playoffs last season, Mike Tomlin somehow rallied his troops and led them to a 9-8 campaign. They weren't winning pretty but that doesn't matter.
Now, they head into 2023 on the heels of a very successful draft. Many publications gave them the highest grade — right up there with Philadelphia and Indy — for their work. Pittsburgh landed Broderick Jones, Keeanu Benton, Darnell Washington, and Nick Herbig who could all be contributors as rookies.
Thankfully, the Browns also had a great offseason. Look for them to make a statement in their first meeting with arguably the most-hated team in the AFC North. Of course, they did that in 2022 so the hope will be that they can keep the momentum rolling when the re-match comes.
Final Score: Browns 28, Steelers 16
Week 3: Titans at Browns
The Titans made sure we will all remember their 2022 campaign as they went from 7-3 to 7-10 and lost the AFC South title to the Jaguars. It was a complete meltdown and even the Rocket Man Josh Dobbs couldn't save them.
This season, things could get even weirder as they're reportedly considering releasing Malik Willis after just one season — in favor of a dude who puts mayo in his coffee nonetheless. In short, this feels like a team heading in the wrong direction and Cleveland secures a statement win as they run all over them.
Final Score: Browns 41, Titans 17
Week 4: Ravens at Browns
The Baltimore Ravens have been a thorn in the side of the Browns for a while. As if it wasn't enough they stole their franchise and moved them to Maryland, they've simply dominated them on the field.
Since 1999, Baltimore is 35-13 against the Browns but the good news is — Cleveland is 2-1 in their past three meetings. However, that's a misleading stat since two of those games predominantly featured Tyler Huntley at quarterback and not Lamar Jackson.
After Jackson recently signed a massive extension, he will face off with Deshaun Watson — whose contract he was trying to match. This will be their first meeting as divisional rivals and for the Browns to set a tone in this rivalry, they need a win. Look for them to barely squeeze this one out as they begin to chip away at Baltimore's lopsided series lead.
Final Score: Browns 27, Ravens 23
Week 5: BYE WEEK
This is an incredibly early bye week, which feels like a disadvantage for the Browns, who could be worn out by the end of the season.
Week 6: 49ers at Browns
Brock Purdy was undefeated in the regular season and might have kept that streak going in the playoffs had it not been for an elbow injury. Now, he's expected to unseat Trey Lance and the San Francisco 49ers are again one of the favorites in the NFC.
Kyle Shanahan is a great offensive mind and should be able to put up enough points, while their defense remains too much for the Browns. This is one of those games where fans might freak out since Cleveland will look disjointed, but this is just simply a poor matchup and should be seen as an anomaly.
Final Score: 49ers 21, Browns 10
Week 7: Browns at Colts
The Indianapolis Colts had a tremendous 2023 NFL Draft but that doesn't mean they'll have instant success. They're likely turning to Anthony Richardson under center and while he can be a great player in the future, he's still very raw as a passer.
Throw in the fact that this game will be in a dome, where Elijah Moore, Amari Cooper, and Donovan Peoples-Jones can really turn it into a track meet, and this game could get away from Indy. Thankfully for them, Nick Chubb will be killing the clock for the majority of the second half so the score won't look too bad.
Final Score: Browns 26, Colts 16
Week 8: Browns at Seahawks
Geno Smith was written off but he didn't write back.
The former New York Jets starter was a backup for six years before getting another shot at being a full-time starter and he didn't disappoint. He led the Seahawks to a 9-8 record and threw for a career-high 4,282 yards and 30 touchdowns.
He outperformed Russell Wilson — who he replaced — and will likely do so again this year. That's not great news for the Browns who end up on the wrong side of the scoreboard here.
Seattle is constantly a tough team to defeat and the addition of Jaxon Smith-Njigba will only make them that much more dangerous on offense.
Final Score: Seahawks 26, Browns 20
Week 9: Cardinals at Browns
Kyler Murray is one of the many quarterbacks who need to send Deshaun Watson a 'thank you' card. Watson's mammoth deal helped Murray land one of his own, but so far, it seems he might have been overpaid.
Making matters worse for the Cardinals, their head coach doesn't seem to have made the best first impression with the players. Of course, he came from Nick Sirriani's coaching staff and Sirriani was a bit awkward in his initial press conference, and that turned out to be a great move nonetheless.
Still, this roster in Arizona isn't scary at this point, especially on defense. Cleveland should have the upper hand as Watson, Nick Chubb, and Amari Cooper have their way with this unit.
Final Score: Browns 31, Cardinals 17
Week 10: Browns at Ravens
Cleveland was able to get a win in the first meeting against the Ravens but this team is still too talented to simply sweep them easily — even if we want to pretend they're not. Going 1-1 against Baltimore isn't bad, however, as the Browns simply need to go 4-2 or even 3-3 in their division in order to have a chance.
Here in the second meeting, points are at a premium as the weather is turning colder. Unfortunately, for Cleveland, the Ravens have the advantage there thanks to Justin Tucker as he gives them a three-point win in overtime.
Final Score: Ravens 19, Browns 16, OT
Week 11: Steelers at Browns
For the past couple of seasons, it felt as though the tide was turning in this rivalry. As Ben Roethlisberger neared the end of his career, the Browns started to finally get some wins against the Steelers but they haven't swept them since 1988 and haven't won two in a row in the regular season against Pittsburgh since Nov. of 1999 and September of 2000. That's why the playoff win following a Week 17 win was so huge in 2020.
This season, those streaks end. The Steelers fight and keep it close but Cleveland is able to hold them off with a two-point win.
Final Score: Browns 22, Steelers 20
Week 12: Browns at Broncos
Denver made a huge trade last year for Russell Wilson and rumors circulated afterward that Cleveland tried to make a move for him as well. Wilson apparently had no interest in playing for the Browns, so he headed to the Broncos, and Deshaun Watson went to Northeast Ohio. In the end, Wilson might have done the Browns a huge favor.
Watson will have to prove his six-game stretch was simply knocking off the rust but Wilson played an entire season and looked like a shell of himself. Denver was a mess and he apparently made himself bigger than the team.
Changing coaches won't fix all that and the Browns feel even better for not landing Wilson after handing him a W in his own stadium.
Final Score: Browns 27, Broncos 15
Week 13: Browns at Rams
Matthew Stafford didn't look like himself last season but was clearly hurt. The Los Angeles Rams shut him down after just nine games and they were a mess all season. Throw in the players they lost in the offseason and it might seem like it's time to start counting them out.
That would be foolish though considering they won it all the last time Stafford was healthy. He should be close to 100 percent in 2023 and Sean McVay is still a brilliant head coach. The Browns do have the firepower to stick with them but in the end, the Rams find a way to win a close contest in front of their home crowd.
Final Score: Rams 33, Browns 31
Week 14: Jaguars at Browns
The days of the Jacksonville Jaguars being a laughingstock appear to be over. Trevor Lawrence proved he was the real deal this past season, as soon as he was free of Urban Meyer, and led them to the AFC South title. As if that wasn't enough, he then orchestrated a comeback win in the playoffs after falling behind 27-0 to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Those who haven't been paying attention might chalk this one up as an easy win but that would be a mistake. The Jags are an ascending team and while it's not impossible for the Browns to knock them off, it's going to be close. And in the end, this feels like one that won't go in their favor.
Final Score: Jaguars 38, Browns 35
Week 15: Bears at Browns
The last time the Brear and Browns played, it got ugly in a hurry. Cleveland's defense went off as they had one of their most memorable performances of all time. The Browns sacked Justin Fields nine times while holding the Chicago defense to just 47 total yards.
This performance came in Week 3 of the 2021 season and should have served as a catalyst for the defense to come together. Unfortunately, they never matched this success and spent the rest of the year — as well as all of 2022 — trying to get back to what we saw against the Bears.
In 2023, this shouldn't be such a one-sided match. Chicago added a lot of talent since that 2021 season as they now have D.J. Moore, Chase Claypool, and Tyler Scott at receiver as well as rookie Roschon Johnson at running back.
Even with the new talent, they're still a team trying to find their way and hitting the road. They keep it much closer but the Browns ground game is too much as they milk out the clock and Cade York knocks in a game-winner.
Final Score: Browns 24, Bears 21
Week 16: Browns at Texans
Deshaun Watson made his Cleveland debut against his former team in Week 13 last season and was just 12-of-22 for 131 yards with a pick. He was still feeling the effects of a 700-day layoff but the Browns were able to win easily by a score of 27-14.
This year, Watson will be more comfortable, and that allows him to give the Texans another multi-score loss. Overall, Houston has had a solid offseason — which included adding C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson — but they're not going to be a threat in 2023 which makes this a lopsided one.
Final Score: Browns 33, Texans 14
Week 17: Jets at Browns (Thursday Night Football)
In 29 meetings, the Browns actually lead the all-time series with the New York Jets — but only barely. Right now, it's sitting at 15-14 but the Jets have won the past two. That includes the huge meltdown from Week 2 of the 2022 campaign, which seemed to open the floodgates for their defensive implosion.
This year, it will be another close one as the Jets now have Aaron Rodgers under center. He's easily one of the better quarterbacks Cleveland will face but he's also not the player he once was. Throw in the fact that he seems to be tough to get along with and this could be a long year for the J-E-T-S.
Look for the Browns to capitalize with a one-point win that upsets New York's morale much like Cleveland's was upset by the Jets in 2022.
Final Score: Browns 30, Jets 29
Week 18: Browns at Bengals
That first game was a bit of a wake-up call for the Browns. They've had success against the Bengals but saw what happens when you don't bring everything you have. This time, that's what they do.
At this point in the season, Deshaun Watson is starting to feel more comfortable in his new offense, and that leads to him attacking the Bengals' defense. He methodically leads them to 31 points as Cleveland wins a shootout, making it a 1-1 series against the in-state rivals and they finish off the 2023 season on a high note.
Final Score: Browns 31, Bengals 28
Overall, the Browns finish 11-6 in this prediction, which would likely be enough to make the postseason. From there, it's anyone's game.