CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Predicting the NFL schedule is a nearly impossible task, so of course we’re going to take a crack at it here.
Instead of going game-by-game through the Browns’ slate -- you can here that on Tuesday’s Orange and Brown Talk podcast -- this prediction is about grouping the games into prime-time matchups, Thursday night games, Sunday afternoons and more.
As for last year’s predictions? Well, let’s just forget about last year and leave the past in the past. We’re forward-looking here and ready to make a new batch of guesses for which games will land where when the NFL schedule comes out Wednesday at 8 p.m.
Made for prime time
vs. Pittsburgh
The Browns have played night games against Pittsburgh three years in a row and it’s a matchup that just looks good under the lights, no matter which stadium it’s in. This always has a chance to land on a Thursday night — it’s perfect as far as travel is concerned and it’s the type of division matchup that makes Thursday nights interesting — but we’ll stick with a Monday night matchup for this game.
vs Chiefs
Kansas City will be in high demand for night games once again, so this isn’t a sure thing, but it’s an intriguing matchup between the defending Super Bowl champs and a team that wants to get there — plus there’s the whole Patrick Mahomes-Deshaun Watson storyline, two 2017 draft picks whose careers have gone in very different directions.
Late afternoon delights
vs. Dallas
It’s nice to be right on one of these for once, even if it’s only because we already know it’s happening.
vs. L.A. Chargers
It usually makes sense for a game against a West Coast team to land in the 4 p.m. window, but it’s not a guarantee. The Browns and Chargers played at 1 p.m. two seasons ago. Not this year.
at Denver
For the same reason as the Chargers matchup, this game will start in the 4 p.m. window in the Eastern time zone, just like last year’s game. That’s 2 p.m. Mountain time, which is the best sports watching time zone.
at Las Vegas
Surprisingly, they won’t want to kick this game off at 10 a.m. local time.
Midweek specials
vs. Cincinnati (Christmas)
The NFL continues its attack on the NBA with a Christmas Day schedule streaming on Netflix and the Browns will once again be a part of it, hosting the Bengals and giving you the ability to watch your favorite team and Netflix and chill — Do the kids still say that?
vs Giants
Something about this game just screams Thursday Night Football (Daniel Jones). I can’t quite put my finger on it (Daniel Jones), but this is just the type of non-descript (Daniel Jones) matchup they put on Thursday nights sometimes.
Working on a Saturday
at Baltimore
If the Browns are going to play on Christmas, they’ll have to play on Saturday the week before. For the second time in three seasons, it will be the Ravens, except this time it will be in Baltimore for a must-see late-season matchup.
Up with the sun
at Jaguars
Just for fun, let’s say the Browns are going to go to London to face the Jaguars in their home away from home. It would be their first trip overseas since 2017. Get your coffee and order up some donuts and watch your favorite team play on a soccer field.
Clocking out early
We all need some 1 p.m. starts in our lives. They give us a chance to catch our breath and get some sleep and, in some cases, drink in a parking lot at 9:30 a.m.
vs Baltimore, at Cincinnati, at Pittsburgh
The 1 p.m. time slot needs division games, too, and they’ll get one each of the Browns’ division matchups.
vs Dolphins
The Browns’ defense against the Dolphins’ high-powered attack is interesting, especially since Miami has struggled the last two years against good teams and physical defenses. This is probably a little much to ask travel-wise for a Thursday night game, but it could be fun there or even as a sneaky Sunday or Monday night game. For now, we’ll guess Sunday afternoon.
at Eagles
A potential night game candidate, both of these teams have more intriguing division games to chew up their night-time inventory.
at Saints
Groggy Browns fans who make this trip will have to rally for a noon start.
at Commanders
There’s not much sizzle to this NFC East matchup and it’s hard to see it at any other time than right here with someone you’ve never heard of on the call.
