The Cleveland Browns could very easily start the 2023 season 0-5

The Cleveland Browns found out the scheduling gods aren’t their friends.

The Cleveland Browns are going to like how their schedule shakes out the first six weeks of the season. While I still contend that the schedule release is very overplayed by the NFL, I have to admit that the release does hold some merit, if the scheduling committee screws you. And, the Browns got hosed.

Say what you will about the Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers as Super Bowl contenders, and you can say a lot about them. What you can’t say is that they’re going to be easy outs for anyone. The Titans and Steelers are both going to have aggressive defenses and stellar head coaches, but they lack the offensive firepower (on paper) to hang with the big dogs.

The Browns are supposed to be the big dogs this year, but they’re rehauling their offense, and their defense has a lot of spare parts masquerading as big-time players. They may not be able to fend off mid-tier teams like the Titans and Steelers.

More so, they also have to contend with the fact that the Ravens, Bengals, and 49ers are the cream of the crop heading into the preseason. Couple all that together with the way-too-early in-the-year Bye Week, and you have the recipe for a disaster this season.

Never assume with the Cleveland Browns and the NFL

So, while it may seem doom and gloom for the Browns across the first six weeks of the season, it’s important to note that none of the teams on the Browns’ schedule are guaranteed locks to be good, outside of maybe The Bengals.

The Steelers still don’t know if Kenny Pickett can lead them to wins.  The Titans may not have an offense worth talking about, even if Derrick Henry stays healthy. Lamar Jackson in 2022 was not the Lamar Jackson of 2019. His MVP Era is already over, and his lack of obvious throwing skills has hindered him and the Ravens before. The 49ers are the most stacked team in the NFL, but they don’t know who their quarterback is going to be.

The Browns could start 0-5, absolutely, but it’s also possible they start 5-0. Not only that but most of the teams outside of the first five games aren’t exactly powerhouses. Outside of the Jaguars, most of the teams have huge giant flaws or are in a state of flux. If a team is making huge changes, like the Jets, there’s always a possibility it doesn’t work.

So even though the Browns opening six weeks aren’t great, this season is far from over, even if they go 0-5.