Cleveland Browns Best & Worst Stretches of 2014 Schedule

Dec 15, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Edwin Baker (27) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter against the Chicago Bears at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

The new and improved Cleveland Browns led by former Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator and new head coach, Mike Pettine will have to really bloody their noses in the AFC North to get into the postseason. The Cleveland Browns 6th for the easiest schedule  this season with the Oakland Raiders leading the pack at #1. The Indianapolis Colts have the easiest schedule in the NFL for this up and coming season.

Since the Cleveland Browns rank 6th in the NFL’s easisest schedules, it really shouldn’t be a problem getting into the postseason, right? We certainly hope so.

According to the Northeast Ohio’s beloved football team’s schedule, the Browns will have their work cut out for them very early in the beginning of the season. Particularly in Weeks 1 and 2. Weeks 1 and 2 will be a bad stretch for the team who had gone 4-12 last season after winning three straight.

In Week 1, the Cleveland Browns will travel to Pittsburgh at Heinz Field to play their longtime division rival, Steelers. That will be a game in which the Browns will really have to show the league and the AFC North that they are more than capable of winning. For the past 13 years, the Steelers have managed to upset the Browns mostly in the regular season and once in the AFC Wild Card. The Steelers have bullied the Browns and manhandled them consistently throughout the seasons with the Browns sneaking in a few wins here or there. Since coming back in 1999, the Browns are 5-26 against the Steelers.

A win in Pittsburgh will definitely quiet the pessimistic naysayers. Want to start the season off on a very good note? Win at Heinz Field.

In Week 2, the Browns will play the New Orleans Saints in their 2014 Season Opener. The last time these two teams played one another, the Browns won by score of 30-17 in the 2010 season. Since 1999, the Browns are 3-1 against the Saints who were ousted in the playoffs last season. This game, the defense will have to show up because they will be playing one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks, Drew Brees. This game will be challenging and very physical.

If the Browns can get a win here, that would be great, especially by it being at home and against one of the best teams in the NFL.

This year, the league did not do the Cleveland team any favors. After squaring off against the Saints, the Browns welcome into town the Baltimore Ravens. Then after that and a bye week, they play the Pittsburgh Steelers again but this time at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio.

What a stretch, right?

In Weeks 7 and 8, the Browns will have a much easier time getting a win as they face the Jacksonville Jaguars and Oakland Raiders. That will probably be one of their easiest stretches this season.

In Weeks 7 and 8, the Browns will have a bit of breathing room after having to face division rivals with their elite quarterbacks. They will head to Jacksonville to play the Jaguars who were very disappointing last season. The Jags started 0-8 and then won four of their last eight games.

After playing Jacksonville, they will head back home to play the subpar Oakland Raiders in Week 8. The Raiders just like the Browns have been notoriously known for their poor play in the past few regular seasons.  These two teams match up pretty well and has not had a franchise quarterback for years. The Browns are 8-3 against the Raiders in the past 11 games.

A win against the Jags and Raiders this season wouldn’t serve much as a surprise.