Schedule Game: Cleveland Browns and the AFC North contenders Weeks 7-16 Edition: While We’re Waiting

The Cleveland Browns might be 2-4, but the Dawg Pound still believes that they could win the AFC North. They have the potential to not only be the best team in the division but beat any team in the league. The problem is that they have yet to show their full potential. They did a bit during their big-time win in Baltimore a few weeks ago, but the mistakes have far outweighed the positive things the team has done through six games of the season. Whether it’s getting outcoached, outplayed, out prepared, or just flat out dominated at times on the football field, many have already begun doubting the Browns and this current regime and roster. On paper, they’re very, very good, it’s the reason they had one of the best Super Bowl odds prior to the season. It’s just the fact that they have struggled so much early on, so much that the bandwagon has become much smaller since Week 1.

Freddie Kitchens needs to figure some things out. Baker Mayfield must improve and get out of his sophomore slump. Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry have to make more plays. The defensive front-seven has to be as good as advertised. Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams must return in order to improve the defensive backfield. We’re already six weeks into the season, but with 10 games remaining in the regular season, Cleveland has time to make adjustments and prove that the hype was legitimate.

Luckily, with the Browns on a bye week, this gives them plenty of time to do just that. Prior to the season, everyone agreed that the Browns’ first eight games of the season featured plenty of tough games, with the back-half of the schedule much easier than the first half. It’s just that this fanbase is tired of being patient. They’ve been patient for much of the last two decades and this year was supposed to be different. With the early-season struggles, that patience has worn off for many.

So, before we get too ahead of ourselves, let’s take a step back and realize that if the Browns can make adjustments and improve during this bye week, the second half of the season can be much better than the first, especially when you look at the schedule ahead.

With 10 weeks remaining in the regular season, let’s play the schedule game for the Browns and the rest of the AFC North, excluding the Bengals because there’s just no way Cincinnati has any chance of winning the division:

Cleveland Browns

• at Patriots
• at Broncos
• vs. Bills
• vs. Steelers
• vs. Dolphins
• at Steelers
• vs. Bengals
• at Cardinals
• vs. Ravens
• at Bengals

Winning percentage of their first six opponents: 58%
Winning percentage of their final 10 opponents: 40%

The Browns are going to start playing sooner rather than later. For both theirs and the Dawg Pound’s sake, hopefully they can figure some things out during their two-week layoff. Luckily, looking at the schedule alone, there is plenty of light at the end of the tunnel. They have two weeks to prepare for the Patriots, the gauntlet appears to be over and the schedule looks much easier, at least compared to much of those first seven games.

Freddie, Baker, and the rest of the team and coaching staff must work through their growing pains and improve, but the schedule gets much easier. They just need to take advantage of it.

Baltimore Ravens

• at Seahawks
• Bye
• vs. Patriots
• at Bengals
• vs. Texans
• at Rams
• vs. 49ers
• at Bills
• vs. Jets
• at Browns
• vs. Steelers

Winning percentage of their first six opponents: 28%
Winning percentage of their final 10 opponents: 56%

The Ravens have looked good so far, as their 4-2 record has shown, but check out that schedule. Their first six games were easy, as that winning percentage of their first six opponents proves. While I’m not saying that they can continue to improve and still win games against better teams, the fact that the winning percentage of their final 10 opponents is twice as much as the winning percentage of their first six opponents says a lot.

Also, outside of that Bengals game in a couple of weeks, Baltimore has one heckuva gauntlet their next seven games. Good luck.

Pittsburgh Steelers

• Bye
• vs. Dolphins
• vs. Colts
• vs. Rams
• at Browns
• at Bengals
• vs. Browns
• at Cardinals
• vs. Bills
• at Jets
• at Ravens

Winning percentage of their first six opponents: 63%
Winning percentage of their final 10 opponents: 38%

While much has been said about the fact that the Browns have a much easier schedule the rest of the season, somehow, the Steelers have an even easier one, by 2%, to be exact. They have plenty of questions, especially considering Ben Roethlisberger is already done for the season, there’s no timetable for Mason Rudolph to return from his concussion, and undrafted rookie free agent Devlin Hodges just started his first game behind center, but that defense has already proven that they can keep the Steelers in any game. Don’t count out the Steelers even if they have a third-string quarterback currently leading the way.

I know, you’re probably disappointed that I didn’t guess the final records of each of these three teams, especially the Browns, but I’m not trying to jinx anything either. Instead, I looked at each team’s schedule and how Cleveland and Pittsburgh have a much easier remaining schedule compared to Baltimore, while the exact opposite can be said when discussing each of the teams’ first six opponents of the season.

So, while the Browns have been quite a disappointment so far, there is plenty to look forward to. This bye week is important for both the team and the Dawg Pound, the Browns just have to live up to the hype very, very soon and take advantage of a much easier schedule the rest of the way.

Just believe, Browns fans. That’s all you can really do.