During July, the Last Word On Sports NFL department will be analyzing the schedules of every team in the NFL and ranking each game in order of difficulty (with one being the most difficult). This series will be split up into the eight most difficult games (ranked 1-8) and the eight easiest games (ranked 9-16) for each team. In this article, the Cleveland Browns most difficult games are the focus.
Cleveland Browns Most Difficult Games in 2016
1. Week 17 at Pittsburgh Steelers
The last time the Browns beat the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field was on Oct. 5, 2003 and barring injuries it will be difficult for the Browns to compete with the Steelers high-octane offense. The Steelers will most likely be playing for a playoff spot or a higher seeding (assuming the team has already clinched a spot), making a victory nearly impossible for the Browns to pull off.
2. Week 5 vs. New England Patriots
The New England Patriots will come out for blood as quarterback Tom Brady returns from his four-game suspension. Despite his age, Brady continues to play at a high level. He’s posted single digit interception totals the previous two seasons while throwing for more than 30 touchdowns each season.
The Patriots also added another weapon this off-season in tight end Martellus Bennett. The veteran brings a rare combination of speed and physicality which wears down the defense throughout the course of the game. The Browns will have a difficult time trying to stop Bennett and fellow tight end Rob Gronkowski. They also have to worry about wideouts Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola.
3. Week 11 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers have one of the most dynamic offenses in the NFL. In addition to the multi-dimensional running back Le’veon Bell, DeAngelo Williams is another productive back, posting 907 yards in 200 attempts and 11 touchdowns last season. The Steelers also have one of the best quarterback-wide receiver tandems in the league in Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown. Brown posted double-digit touchdowns in the past two seasons as he has emerged as one of the league’s best receivers.
4. Week 7 at Cincinnati Bengals
Unfortunately for the Browns they play in one of the toughest divisions in the NFL, therefore no divisional game is easy. The last time the Browns won at Cincinnati was on Sept. 28, 2008 and it’s not expected to change. While the Bengals have lost talent, they still have Andy Dalton, who despite his playoff woes, excels in the regular season. Tight end Tyler Eifert is coming off ankle surgery, but should be healthy by Week 7.
5. Week 10 at Baltimore Ravens
This rematch of Week 2 is more difficult because they will be on the road. While the Browns beat the Ravens on the road 33-30 last season, the last time that they pulled off that feat before that game dates back to Nov. 18, 2007. The Ravens play significantly better at home and have one of the best home field advantages. Prior to the 2015 season, the Ravens won 78 percent of their home games over the last 10 years while only winning 43 percent of their road games. The team plays with greater intensity at M&T Bank Stadium, which doesn’t bode well for the Browns.
6. Week 14 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The battle of Ohio used to be a competitive matchup between two teams fighting for state status, but as of late, the Cincinnati Bengals have dominated the Browns. In their last three match-ups, the Browns have lost to the Bengals by more than 20 points.
The Bengals lost a lot of talent this off-season, including wide receivers Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu, right tackle Andre Smith and safety Reggie Nelson. However, the Browns also lost most of their best players in offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz, center Alex Mack, and linebacker Karlos Dansby (who is now with the Bengals). However, the Browns made a smart hire in Hue Jackson and the addition of wide receiver Corey Coleman and the return of Josh Gordon will help the team. The question is, by how much?
7. Week 2 vs. Baltimore Ravens
The Browns have beaten the Baltimore Ravens only nine times out of 34 games dating back to their first matchup on Sept. 26, 1999. Quarterback Joe Flacco struggled mightily last year before tearing his ACL, but with new weapons including wide receiver Mike Wallace, Flacco is looking for a bounce-back year.
The Ravens also have one of the best lines in the NFL. The pressure applied upfront can cause fits to the Browns running game which can spell trouble down the stretch. The Ravens upgraded their secondary as well with the addition of safety Eric Weddle, so it will be hard to score on a defense that was already No. 8 last year.
8. Week 12 vs. New York Giants
The New York Giants had the talent to make a playoff push last year, but mental errors and breakdowns down the stretch led to their demise. However, Giants general manager Jerry Reese spent a lot of money this off-season to revamp the team, especially on defense. The team added defensive end Olivier Vernon, cornerback Janoris Jenkins and nose tackle Damon Harrison, who is considered one of the best run-stuffers in the game.
Harrison is the X-factor, as the Browns will most likely be a run-first offense. His ability to make the offense one-dimensional puts more pressure on Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III (assuming he will be the starter in Week 12), which is a situation the Browns want to avoid. The Giants also have a high-octane offense led by quarterback Eli Manning. With Odell Beckham Jr., Victor Cruz and the addition of rookie Sterling Shepard, the Browns have to pick their poison.
Be sure to check out the eight easiest games on the Cleveland Browns schedule.
Main Photo:
