NFL Schedule Shines the Spotlight on the Browns
The Cleveland Browns got a glimpse of the spotlight last season when they were featured on HBO’s “Hard Knocks.”
The spotlight then grew during their surprising regular season in which they had more wins than in their previous three seasons combined.
That spotlight shined even brighter during the offseason as they made arguably the single-biggest move by trading for Odell Beckham Jr.
Now, that spotlight will be glistening this upcoming season, as the NFL released the 2019 schedule on Wednesday and the Cleveland Browns have been awarded four prime-time games.
That equals the number of prime-time contests the team had over the last four seasons combined, and no team has appeared in fewer prime-time games (11) over the last 10 years than the Browns.
In Week 2, the Browns will visit the Jets on “Monday Night Football,” which will be Cleveland’s first “MNF” appearance since 2015.
The following week, Cleveland will host the L.A. Rams on “Sunday Night Football” which will be a rare sight for the Dawg Pound.
The Browns haven’t been a part of “Sunday Night Football” since the 2008 season, and that game ended in a dud as they lost to the Steelers by a score of 10-6.
In Week 5, the Browns will travel to San Francisco for a Monday night tilt with the 49ers.
Cleveland’s final prime-time game will come in Week 11, when they host the Steelers on Thursday Night Football.
Four prime-time games is the minimum the Browns will partake in, as starting in Week 11 the NFL goes with flexible scheduling with “Sunday Night Football.”
That means that if the team is competitive and there is a good matchup scheduled for earlier on Sunday, the NFL could bump the Browns game to “SNF,” giving them another prime-time opportunity.
Browns’ GM John Dorsey celebrated the schedule release in the most “John Dorsey” way.
EXCLUSIVE: The exact moment GM John Dorsey got our schedule pic.twitter.com/EC1tAvMs4E
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) April 18, 2019
“It gives the country a chance to see how passionate the fanbase is (in Cleveland).” -Browns GM John Dorsey on four scheduled primetime games
— Nick Shook (@TheNickShook) April 18, 2019
Four prime-time games for the Browns is certainly a lot for them, but not the most in the NFL.
There are 10 teams that will have five prime-time games in 2019.
All 32 teams will appear in at least one prime-time game on Thursday, Sunday or Monday night.
Truth and Accuracy
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.
