The NFL has released the 2020 schedules and with all that is going on in the world, anticipation is at an all-time high. The Cleveland Browns are entering the season with a ton to prove with yet another new coaching staff trying to find their way to success and this schedule provides us a road map on how it’s possible. Here are the four most important games on the slate.
Week 2: September 17 vs. Cincinnati Bengals (Thursday Night Football) & Week 7 October, 25 at Cincinnati
Cleveland opens the season up against the defending AFC North Champions, Baltimore Ravens, but their week two contest against the Bengals is far more important. The Week 2 contest is on prime-time in front of the entire country and Cincinnati is a team the Browns need to win convincingly against early.
No one is going to expect a first-time head coach with a team in transition to kick the doors down on the Ravens so early in the season, but Cleveland needs to keep the Bengals in the cellar and they need to double down in Week 7 as well.
Week 10: November 15 vs Houston Texans
Despite not being a divisional game, this game is still extremely important, because it will be Kevin Stefanski and his staff’s first opportunity to showcase how good they are off a bye week and Houston is no joke.
By the time Week 10 rolls around, we will have a solid idea of how good this team is. If the Browns can provide a beatdown to a playoff-caliber team like the Texans, it’s a good sign.
Week 11: November 22 vs Philadelphia Eagles
Right after playing Houston, Cleveland gets to stay at home and take on another extremely well-coached, playoff-caliber team in Philadelphia. With the tumultuous offseason the Texans have faced, it’s difficult to predict them being a good team again in 2020, but all signs point to the Eagles being better this season. Philadelphia is a difficult midseason test for the Browns.
Week 1: September 13 @ Baltimore & Week 14: December 14 vs. Baltimore Ravens (Monday Night Football)
Cleveland needs to show that they belong in the top tier of the AFC and they need to get one win against Baltimore and I think most agree it would be ideal if they got the win at home late in the season in prime-time on Monday Night Football. Beggars can’t be choosers and if they can somehow steal the win in Week 1 — I’m all for it — but that seems like a taller task.
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