What’s going to turn out to be the most important impediment with the 2026 Cleveland Browns? The quarterback scenario. As a result of in case you haven’t seen, the schedule goes to permit Cleveland to win fairly just a few video games this 12 months.
No, actually. The truth is, the Browns may very well be 6-4-0 and even 7-3-0 by the point their bye week arrives. No, actually.
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The Browns are taking part in that last-place end schedule. The basement schedule is for each crew that finishes on the backside of their division. With the next season, they’ll play not less than 5 different backside feeders. The NFL is all about parity and needs to assist the downtrodden golf equipment.
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That is why a crew such because the New England Patriots will be 4-13-0 in 2024, after which climb to 14-3-0, win their division, and find yourself within the Tremendous Bowl. On the similar time, the Washington Commanders have been within the NFC Championship Recreation one 12 months in the past, then got here in third place of their division final season. It cuts each methods.
Have a look at this 12 months’s opponents on the Browns’ schedule:
Week 5: @ New York Jets (final place AFC East)Week 7: @ Tennessee Titans (final place AFC South)Week 9: @ New Orleans Saints (final place NFC South)Week 12: Las Vegas Raiders (final place AFC West)Week 15: @ New York Soccer Giants (final place NFC East)
Not that any of those groups can’t flip their information in a single season. It occurs. However for now, Cleveland is taking part in 5 of the seven out there last-place groups.
Their bye week is Week 11. It’s a credible opinion that the Browns may very well be a 6-4 crew at that time. Right here’s the rundown:
Week 1: @ Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jags have been a type of golf equipment that flipped their future. They have been 4-13-0 in 2024 and 13-4-0 final 12 months, received their division, claimed the #3 seed within the postseason, however misplaced a heartbreaker of their first playoff sport towards the Buffalo Payments 27-24.
Jacksonville had the #11 protection and was #1 towards the run. The Browns’ new offense shall be predicated on a heavy run assault. The Jags allowed simply 85.6 yards per sport speeding. Quinshon Judkins would be the featured again towards a stout protection. To not point out taking part in within the Florida warmth. It’s nonetheless brutal in September.
Prediction: Browns lose 0-1
Week 2: @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield is 0-1 towards his former crew. However with the Carolina Panthers, he didn’t have a lot of a forged round him. His Buccaneers crew began sizzling final 12 months after which fizzled mightily. That development would possibly proceed into this season, though Baker would love nothing greater than to beat his former crew. Not the fanbase, thoughts you, simply the entrance workplace.
Nonetheless, the Bucs have been #21 on offense which doesn’t bode nicely towards this Browns protection. Once more, the Florida warmth could play an element.
Prediction: Browns win 1-1
Week 3: Carolina Panthers
Historically, a poor crew, however the Panthers performed significantly better in 2025 on protection. Their offensive output was horrible. Cleveland’s protection ought to management this sport. The run sport might want to step up and ship good manufacturing.
Prediction: Browns win 2-1
CLEVELAND, OHIO – NOVEMBER 21: Denzel Ward #21 of the Cleveland Browns breaks up a cross ultimately zone towards the Pittsburgh Steelers to finish the fourth quarter within the sport at Huntington Financial institution Discipline on November 21, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photograph by Jason Miller/Getty Photographs) Getty Photographs
Week 4: Pittsburgh Steelers
The one Prime Time sport for Cleveland is on Thursday Night time. The Browns ought to be capable of cut up with Pittsburgh this 12 months, with every crew profitable their house sport. We actually don’t know what to anticipate from the Steelers, however since 2020, Cleveland has cut up the collection with Pittsburgh 5 of the six seasons, and with Baltimore 4 of six in a cut up annually.
What’s going to Aaron Rodgers appear like? He actually isn’t a lot of an element now, and final 12 months’s offense ranked #25. Hopefully, this Browns protection will stay one of many league’s finest, even with out Jim Schwartz. The Steelers didn’t have an awesome protection final 12 months, and it seems they didn’t enhance a lot on this aspect of the ball through the offseason as they picked seven offensive gamers out of 10 choices on this 12 months’s NFL draft. The Browns have crushed Pittsburgh at house the final 4 years straight. That development ought to proceed.
Prediction: Browns win 3-1
The Jets are much like the Browns in that their offense isn’t excellent, with a stout defensive effort. They usually drafted closely with the protection to maintain it contemporary and related. This shall be a more in-depth sport than most will predict. Bear in mind, New York was ranked #29 in run protection final 12 months and grabbed David Bailey second total to help within the cross rush, after which took CB D’Angelo Ponds in Spherical 2.
If the Browns can pound the ball, they need to be capable of outscore the Jets in a low-scoring sport that can rely totally on their discipline objective kickers.
Prediction: Browns win 4-1
The Browns want to separate with the Ravens, however perhaps not. And sure, this can be a house sport for Cleveland. This one sport may turn out to be the catalyst on the finish of the season whether it is certainly a loss. If the Browns are one win away from 10 victories, this sport shall be circled and cursed because the spoiler. A much-needed win right here would set the tone.
The Browns are 3-3 versus Baltimore at house and an abysmal 1-5 in Baltimore, since 2020. Which means this sport may go both means, however for now shall be logged as a loss.
New coaches for each the Ravens and Browns, which shall be crucial. Head coach Todd Monken would love nothing higher than to defeat his former crew.
Prediction: Browns lose 4-2
Week 7: @ Tennessee Titans
The Titans have been horrible final 12 months in each section. They’ll enhance some this 12 months, however not sufficient to make a dent. The Browns may have few alternatives to dominate their opponent, and this shall be one in all them.
Titans simply have an excessive amount of floor to cowl in a single 12 months. Final 12 months, the offense ranked second-to-last with a middle-of-the-pack protection.
Prediction: Browns win 5-2
Week 8: @Pittsburgh Steelers
The Browns will cut up with Pittsburgh in every house stadium. Aside from the playoff win in 2020, a 48-37 Cleveland victory, the Browns have misplaced six consecutive street video games to the Steelers through the common season. This one makes seven.
This one shall be actually robust to eke out a win, and will go both means.
The cut up with Pittsburgh will come right here. Ought to be a detailed sport and enjoyable to observe. Anticipating this to come back right down to the final 4 minutes, however the Browns will path all sport and make it shut on the finish.
Prediction: Browns lose 5-3
CLEVELAND, OHIO – DECEMBER 21: Carson Schwesinger #49 of the Cleveland Browns tackles James Prepare dinner III #4 of the Buffalo Payments through the second quarter at Huntington Financial institution Discipline on December 21, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photograph by Nick Cammett/Diamond Photographs through Getty Photographs) Diamond Photographs/Getty Photographs
Week 9: @ New Orleans Saints
The Saints performed poorly final 12 months within the first half, however then received 4 of their remaining 5 video games. Head coach Kellen Moore is an offensive grasp, and his membership drafted closely on offense, together with three receivers.
Now that their younger QB has had a portion of 1 12 months to season and get acclimated to the professional degree, anticipate him to turn out to be extra environment friendly and understand what the pocket is doing. The Saints shall be a lot improved on offense and be capable of rating big numbers. The protection may have its work lower out for it. This one shall be actually robust to eke out a win, and will go both means. Proper now predicting a detailed win, however it may very well be a loss simply as simply.
Prediction: Browns win 6-3
The Texans are an excellent ballclub. They’re constructed on protection and have centered on their most problematic space alongside the offensive line. This crew was additionally constructed on the backs of the Cleveland Browns in that they have been as soon as a four-win membership, used all of these Cleveland first and second spherical draft picks within the Deshaun Watson commerce, and have constructed a winner that has seen the postseason frequently.
The Texans have been to a few straight playoff years, profitable the AFC South crown twice. They went 12-5-0 final 12 months. Their protection is ranked #1, and so they drafted 4 extra younger defenders for depth. Robust to run towards, so the passing sport must work a bit tougher. No humiliation for shedding this sport.
Prediction: Browns lose 6-4
The seven video games down the stretch after the bye will decide the Browns’ destiny concerning the playoffs. It’s favorable, although. A number of winnable video games towards the Giants, Raiders, Atlanta Falcons, and two towards an unknown Cincinnati Bengals crew. Plus, an away sport in Baltimore, and what is going to the Indianapolis Colts be like?
WR Jerry Jeudy #3 and TE Harold Fannin #44 (Photograph by Nick Cammett/Diamond Photographs through Getty Photographs) Diamond Photographs/Getty Photographs
Final 12 months within the AFC, it took 10 wins to get into the postseason, whereas the #7 seed Los Angeles Chargers have been 11-6-0. So, the convention is hard. It would take a very good win-loss file to even take into consideration the postseason.
The Browns have improved in so many areas this 12 months. They nonetheless lack some issues, nevertheless.
Can 5 new offensive linemen come collectively as one cohesive group? It might be some time for these males to meld collectively, so how lengthy will that take? Is RB Quinshon Judkins the identical runner he was final 12 months earlier than his damage? Can the quarterback scenario be solved? What’s going to this offense appear like with two rookie receivers? Is TE Harold Fannin prepared for a full workload? Who will in the end assist from the tight finish room? Will the passing sport be an entire flip?
The higher portion of the schedule will resolve the place this franchise will find yourself in 2026.
