With the 2016 regular season over, Browns fans and personnel alike now await the draft and 2017. Players like Danny Shelton and Terrelle Pryor made pretty big jumps in 2016, but Cleveland’s search for franchise players continues. Even if the 2017 Cleveland Browns do find a franchise player in the draft, they’ve still got their work cut out for them next year. So let’s look at next year’s schedule as it pertains to the Browns.
Previewing the 2017 Cleveland Browns Schedule
Divisional Opponents
In its simplest terms, the Cleveland Browns are just a bad team. And playing in a division like the AFC North definitely, doesn’t help. Sure, the division had a down year in 2016, but they’re more than likely going to bounce back. The AFC North features offenses that can tear teams up and defenses that can shut them down. With players like Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco, and AJ Green in the division, Cleveland will be hard-pressed for wins until they get a star of the same caliber.
So just how large is the gap between Cleveland and its AFC North rivals? The last time the Browns beat a divisional opponent was over 450 days ago, on October 11th, 2015 at home against the Baltimore Ravens. The last time the Browns won the division in a season was 1989, when it was the AFC Central. Browns fans must be patient and expect maybe one or two division wins in 2017 if their team is lucky.
Home Games
Jacksonville Jaguars
This is actually a winnable game for the Browns. The Jaguars were only 3-13 in 2016. Although they were better than the Browns, so was everyone else. The Jags play in the mediocre AFC South, where the reigning champion Texans are 9-7. The Jaguars, like the Browns, have been remarkably bad for a while now. In addition, Jacksonville is in Florida. If this is a game in December, that only raises the Browns’ chances.
Tennessee Titans
Another AFC South opponent, but much less of a winnable game. Cleveland lost to the Titans in 2016, and many expect quarterback Marcus Mariota to “make the jump” in 2017. Unless Cleveland can draft really really well, the Titans have a better chance to take this one.
Green Bay Packers
I hate to be what some would call a “Negative Nancy”, but…there’s really just no way. Barring a miracle, or the Packers resting all their starters, Cleveland will get destroyed by the Packers.
Minnesota Vikings
This game rightfully makes many a Browns fan upset, as Cleveland will be losing a true home game. The game will take place in London, England. But as for the actual play, with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater back from injury, and a dominant defense, Minnesota definitely has the step on the Browns.
New York Jets
The Browns played the Jets in 2016 and honestly should’ve beaten them. Cleveland took a lead into the locker room at halftime but ended up blowing it and giving the win to the Jets. If the Browns draft well, they’ll beat New York in 2017.
Away Games
Houston Texans
Ah, yes, the reigning AFC South champions. But as stated before, that doesn’t exactly mean much. Defensive end JJ Watt will undoubtedly be a problem, but if the Browns can keep him in check, they should have a 50/50 shot at the win.
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts don’t seem to draft very well. You can’t help but feel bad for Andrew Luck as his team’s defense continues to impede his possible greatness. But even still, the Colts should tear up the Browns defense with Andrew Luck facilitating that offense. This one should be a shootout unless the Browns can draft really well defensively. This win will likely go to the Colts.
Chicago Bears
The Cleveland Browns can and will beat the Chicago Bears. The Bears were 3-13 this year, and they need a lot of help in the draft. Though we can never be sure until the clock zeroes out, Browns fans should be hopeful for this one.
Detroit Lions
This one is a lot trickier than a lot of people think it is. Yeah, the Lions should win, but for whatever reason, I really do feel good about this one. It’ll be a weird game, that’s more than likely. There’s no way that the Browns should win. However, fans know at this point to never bet on or against the Browns.
San Diego Chargers
Much like the Bears, the Browns are going to beat the Chargers. They did it in 2016, and they have to be much better in 2017. They just have to. It’s hard to outdo 1-15.
2017 Cleveland Browns Probable Record: 5-11 or 6-10
2017 Cleveland Browns Hopeful Record: 7-9
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