Cleveland Browns 2015 Schedule

Preseason

• Thu, Aug 13 vs Redskins 8:00 p.m.
• Thu, Aug 20 vs Bills 8:00 p.m.
• Sat, Aug 29 at Buccaneers 7:00 p.m.
• Thu, Sep 3 at Bears 8:00 p.m.

Regular Season

1 - Sun, Sep 13 @ New York Jets 1:00 PM CBS
2 - Sun, Sep 20 vs Tennessee 1:00 PM CBS
3 - Sun, Sep 27 vs Oakland 1:00 PM CBS
4 - Sun, Oct 4 @ San Diego 4:05 PM CBS

5 - Sun, Oct 11 @ Baltimore 1:00 PM CBS
6 - Sun, Oct 18 vs Denver 1:00 PM CBS
7 - Sun, Oct 25 @ St. Louis 1:00 PM CBS
8 - Sun, Nov 1 vs Arizona 1:00 PM FOX

9 - Thu, Nov 5 @ Cincinnati 8:25 PM NFL
10 - Sun, Nov 15 @ Pittsburgh 1:00 PM CBS
11 BYE WEEK
12 - Mon, Nov 30 vs Baltimore 8:30 PM ESPN/WatchESPN
13 - Sun, Dec 6 vs Cincinnati 1:00 PM CBS

14 - Sun, Dec 13 vs San Francisco 1:00 PM FOX
15 - Sun, Dec 20 @ Seattle 4:05 PM FOX
16 - Sun, Dec 27 @ Kansas City 1:00 PM CBS
17 - Sun, Jan 3 vs Pittsburgh 1:00 PM CBS

http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/cle/cleveland-browns

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Browns start with an allegedly easy schedule with the Jets, Titans, and Raiders, although last year's team struggled to defeat the Titans and Raiders. Oakland seemed to improve as the season wore on with rookie QB Carr.

Last year's results:
http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/schedule/_/name/cle/year/2014

Breaking down the season into four-game blocks.

1st Qtr

I can see two wins out of the first four games. Will Rivers be the QB of San Diego or Tennessee?

(2-2)

2nd Qtr

I predict one win and three losses. The only win occurring against St. Louis.

(3-5)

3rd Qtr

Wow. What a bizarre but fascinating four-game stretch. This will be the most interesting part of the season. All four games occur against divisional opponents. That's rugged. Two home and two away. Two against Cincy. And two games are primetime. Thursday night at Cincy. Monday night home to Baltimore, which I predict Cleveland will win. Cleveland may win only one game, two tops.

(4-8)

4th Qtr

In recent years, the Browns have struggled during the final four games of each season.

Browns record over the final four games and overall record:

• 2014 : 0-4 (7-9)
• 2013 : 0-4 (4-12
• 2012 : 1-3 (5-11)
• 2011 : 0-4 (4-12)
• 2010 : 0-4 (5-11)
• 2009 : 4-4 (5-11)

Big finish at the end of 2009 translated into nothing for the next season.

Over the past five seasons, Cleveland's combined record during the final quarter of each season is 1-19. That achievement occurred with different head coaches, QBs, many QBs, front office management personnel, and owners.

For the 2015 season, all of the final four games may occur against playoff caliber teams. In fact, 11 or 12 of the 16 games occur against playoff-possible opponents, which includes double-counting three divisional teams.

Jets, Titans, Raiders, Rams, and probably San Fran are the games that will occur against teams that, at this point, will not be in the playoff hunt. But surprises occur each season.

I predict the Browns go 1-3 over the final four games.

Final record: 5-11.

Best case scenario: 4-4 at the halfway point with some breaks going Cleveland's way.

Then 2-2 during the fascinating 3rd group of four games that will occur over five weeks. That will be an emotional time with the divisional opponents and primetime games. Divisional games are unpredictable. Records don't matter. Good time for a bye week. Therefore, 2-2 is possible.

6-6 would be a fine record for Cleveland. And it's possible that Cle may go 2-2 at the end.

At the most, I think Cleveland will finish 7-9 or 8-8. With that schedule, that would be an improvement over last year's 7-9 record.

8-8 would probably require Cleveland to receive some fortunate breaks in those close, one-play-either-way, would-have, could-have, should-have games.

5-11 seems worst-case and 8-8 best-case. 6-10 or 7-9 are more realistic.

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