For those who have followed my coverage of Cleveland sports for the 15+ years I’ve been doing it, you know I have three types of teams that I like the most:
- Championship contenders
- Young and growing
- Tanking
Most fans like the first two, who wouldn’t like a team that has a reasonable chance of winning a title or a young team that is putting things together with its talent. It is the final team that some do not like. For me, a title is the highest priority, and being mediocre with many veterans on the roster just isn’t for me.
With the NFL schedule
release just around the corner, wanting one of those three types of teams generally leads all of my thoughts about the Cleveland Browns. Since any reasonable person would not expect a title contender in 2026, that means I either want the Browns to be an up-and-coming team or I want them to bottom out this season.
Given the talent in the last two drafts, we will for sure start the year with the expectation of a team that is on the rise. That leads me to three things I’m rooting for for Cleveland’s 2026 schedule:
Browns schedule includes “easy” Week 1
We really never know who will be “easy” or not, but since we are months away from the actual game, a young Cleveland team would benefit a lot from a “winnable” contest in Week 1. While I may not have high hopes for anyone in the AFC North, that would mean I don’t want to see any of those teams either in Week 1.
No Ravens/Steelers back-to-back on the Browns 2026 schedule
Good or bad, the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers are often very physical teams and, it seems, like Cleveland often plays them in back-to-back weeks, including short weeks for the Browns. For 2026, unless it’s the end of the season, I would like the young roster to get a little break between those two very physical matchups.
Browns, Saints playing in Paris in 2026
This one is a very selfish desire as my wife and I are hoping to make a plan to head over for this game. We were blessed to be able to attend Cleveland’s game in London last year, and another overseas Browns game gives us an excuse to rationalize another big trip.
When it comes to the Browns 2026 schedule, are there anything you are rooting for? Maybe a home game around your birthday? An early or late bye week? A certain matchup so you can travel for it?
Share your schedule thoughts in the comment section below
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