What will become the biggest obstacle with the 2026 Cleveland Browns? The quarterback situation. Because if you haven’t noticed, the schedule is going to allow Cleveland to win quite a few games this year.
No, really. In fact, the Browns could be 6-4-0 or even 7-3-0 by the time their bye week arrives. No, really.
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The Browns are playing that last-place finish schedule. The basement schedule is for every team that finishes at the bottom of their division. With
the following season, they will play at least five other bottom feeders. The NFL is all about parity and wants to help the downtrodden clubs.
This is why a team such as the New England Patriots can be 4-13-0 in 2024, and then climb to 14-3-0, win their division, and end up in the Super Bowl. At the same time, the Washington Commanders were in the NFC Championship Game one year ago, then came in third place in their division last season. It cuts both ways.
Look at this year’s opponents on the Browns’ schedule:
- Week 5: @ New York Jets (last place AFC East)
- Week 7: @ Tennessee Titans (last place AFC South)
- Week 9: @ New Orleans Saints (last place NFC South)
- Week 12: Las Vegas Raiders (last place AFC West)
- Week 15: @ New York Football Giants (last place NFC East)
Not that any of these teams can’t flip their records in a single season. It happens. But for now, Cleveland is playing five of the seven available last-place teams.
Their bye week is Week 11. It is a credible opinion that the Browns could be a 6-4 team at that point. Here’s the rundown:
Week 1: @ Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jags were one of those clubs that flipped their destiny. They were 4-13-0 in 2024 and 13-4-0 last year, won their division, claimed the #3 seed in the postseason, but lost a heartbreaker in their first playoff game against the Buffalo Bills 27-24.
Jacksonville had the #11 defense and was #1 against the run. The Browns’ new offense will be predicated on a heavy run attack. The Jags allowed just 85.6 yards per game rushing. Quinshon Judkins will be the featured back against a stout defense. Not to mention playing in the Florida heat. It is still brutal in September.
Prediction: Browns lose 0-1
Week 2: @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield is 0-1 against his former team. But with the Carolina Panthers, he didn’t have much of a cast around him. His Buccaneers team started hot last year and then fizzled mightily. That trend might continue into this season, although Baker would love nothing more than to beat his former team. Not the fanbase, mind you, just the front office.
However, the Bucs were #21 on offense which doesn’t bode well against this Browns defense. Again, the Florida heat may play a factor.
Prediction: Browns win 1-1
Week 3: Carolina Panthers
Traditionally, a poor team, but the Panthers played much better in 2025 on defense. Their offensive output was horrible. Cleveland’s defense should control this game. The run game will need to step up and deliver good production.
Prediction: Browns win 2-1
Week 4: Pittsburgh Steelers
The only Prime Time game for Cleveland is on Thursday Night. The Browns should be able to split with Pittsburgh this year, with each team winning their home game. We really don’t know what to expect from the Steelers, but since 2020, Cleveland has split the series with Pittsburgh five of the six seasons, and with Baltimore four of six in a split each year.
What will Aaron Rodgers look like? He really isn’t much of a factor now, and last year’s offense ranked #25. Hopefully, this Browns defense will remain one of the league’s best, even without Jim Schwartz. The Steelers did not have a great defense last year, and it appears they didn’t improve much on this side of the ball during the offseason as they picked seven offensive players out of 10 selections in this year’s NFL draft. The Browns have beaten Pittsburgh at home the last four years straight. That trend should continue.
Prediction: Browns win 3-1
Week 5: @ New York Jets
The Jets are similar to the Browns in that their offense isn’t very good, with a stout defensive effort. And they drafted heavily with the defense to keep it fresh and relevant. This will be a closer game than most will predict. Keep in mind, New York was ranked #29 in run defense last year and grabbed David Bailey second overall to assist in the pass rush, and then took CB D’Angelo Ponds in Round 2.
If the Browns can pound the ball, they should be able to outscore the Jets in a low-scoring game that will rely mostly on their field goal kickers.
Prediction: Browns win 4-1
Week 6: Baltimore Ravens
The Browns need to split with the Ravens, but maybe not. And yes, this is a home game for Cleveland. This one game could become the catalyst at the end of the season if it is indeed a loss. If the Browns are one win away from 10 victories, this game will be circled and cursed as the spoiler. A much-needed win here would set the tone.
The Browns are 3-3 versus Baltimore at home and an abysmal 1-5 in Baltimore, since 2020. That means this game could go either way, but for now will be logged as a loss.
New coaches for both the Ravens and Browns, which will be critical. Head coach Todd Monken would love nothing better than to defeat his former team.
Prediction: Browns lose 4-2
Week 7: @ Tennessee Titans
The Titans were horrible last year in every phase. They will improve some this year, but not enough to make a dent. The Browns will have few opportunities to dominate their opponent, and this will be one of them.
Titans just have too much ground to cover in one year. Last year, the offense ranked second-to-last with a middle-of-the-pack defense.
Prediction: Browns win 5-2
Week 8: @Pittsburgh Steelers
The Browns will split with Pittsburgh in each home stadium. Except for the playoff win in 2020, a 48-37 Cleveland victory, the Browns have lost six consecutive road games to the Steelers during the regular season. This one makes seven.
This one will be really tough to eke out a win, and could go either way.
The split with Pittsburgh will come here. Should be a close game and fun to watch. Expecting this to come down to the last four minutes, but the Browns will trail all game and make it close at the end.
Prediction: Browns lose 5-3
Week 9: @ New Orleans Saints
The Saints played poorly last year in the first half, but then won four of their final five games. Head coach Kellen Moore is an offensive master, and his club drafted heavily on offense, including three receivers.
Now that their young QB has had a portion of one year to season and get acclimated to the pro level, expect him to become more efficient and realize what the pocket is doing. The Saints will be much improved on offense and be able to score huge numbers. The defense will have its work cut out for it. This one will be really tough to eke out a win, and could go either way. Right now predicting a close win, but it could be a loss just as easily.
Prediction: Browns win 6-3
Week 10: Houston Texans
The Texans are a very good ballclub. They are built on defense and have focused on their most problematic area along the offensive line. This team was also built on the backs of the Cleveland Browns in that they were once a four-win club, used all of those Cleveland first and second round draft picks in the Deshaun Watson trade, and have built a winner that has seen the postseason regularly.
The Texans have been to three straight playoff years, winning the AFC South crown twice. They went 12-5-0 last year. Their defense is ranked #1, and they drafted four more young defenders for depth. Tough to run against, so the passing game will have to work a bit harder. No humiliation for losing this game.
Prediction: Browns lose 6-4
Week 11: BYE week
The seven games down the stretch after the bye will determine the Browns’ fate regarding the playoffs. It is favorable, though. Several winnable games against the Giants, Raiders, Atlanta Falcons, and two against an unknown Cincinnati Bengals team. Plus, an away game in Baltimore, and what will the Indianapolis Colts be like?
Last year in the AFC, it took 10 wins to get into the postseason, while the #7 seed Los Angeles Chargers were 11-6-0. So, the conference is tough. It will take a good win-loss record to even think about the postseason.
The Browns have improved in so many areas this year. They still lack some matters, however.
Can five new offensive linemen come together as one cohesive group? It may be a while for these men to meld together, so how long will that take? Is RB Quinshon Judkins the same runner he was last year before his injury? Can the quarterback situation be solved? What will this offense look like with two rookie receivers? Is TE Harold Fannin ready for a full workload? Who will ultimately help from the tight end room? Will the passing game be a complete flip?
The upper portion of the schedule will decide where this franchise will end up in 2026.
