Don't be fooled by the Browns' spot in the league-wide strength of schedule rankings.
The Browns, who are tied with the Jets for the 17th-hardest schedule in the league, will likely have a more difficult schedule in 2022 than what the ranking suggests. That's because multiple opponents have been active this offseason and completed significant moves to compete at a higher level.
Cleveland is set to play the Chargers, Patriots, Saints, Jets and Buccaneers, and road matchups include the Falcons, Bills, Panthers, Texans, Commanders and Dolphins. Two games apiece against each AFC North rival will be played at home and on the road.
Those teams combined for a 142-145-2 record, and six of them finished last season with a record below .500: The Ravens, Jets, Commanders, Texans, Falcons and Panthers. Three of them — the Ravens, Jets and Commanders — all made significant offseason moves that give them a strong shot at performing better.
The Ravens, for instance, drafted two of the top players of their respective positions of the class in S Kyle Hamilton and C Tyler Linderbaum and added S Marcus Williams in free agency. They'll also return QB Lamar Jackson and CBs Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey from injuries that forced them to miss significant time. The Jets benefitted from three quality first-round picks (CB Ahmad Gardner, WR Garrett Wilson, EDGE Jermaine Johnson II) and drafted the top-ranked RB of the class in Breece Hall. The Commanders upgraded their QB with Carson Wentz and drafted WR Jahan Dotson to boost their pass game.
Check out photos as players and staff work throughout the offseason
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and running back Kareem Hunt (27) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Guard David Moore (60) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Guard Blake Hance (62) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Phase II workouts on May 10, 2022.
Tight end Miller Forristall (86) and quarterback Joshua Dobbs (15) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Wide receiver Amari Cooper (2) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Tackle Chris Hubbard (74) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Tight end Miller Forristall (86) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Running back D'Ernest Johnson (30) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Tackle Elijah Nkansah (65) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Running back Demetric Felton (25) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Quarterback Joshua Dobbs (15) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Phase II workouts on May 10, 2022.
Fullback Johnny Stanton IV (40) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Running back John Kelly Jr. (41) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Running back Kareem Hunt (27) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Guard Wyatt Teller (77) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Guard Michael Dunn (68) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Fullback Johnny Stanton IV (40) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Guard Wyatt Teller (77) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones (11) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Running back John Kelly Jr. (41) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Tight end Harrison Bryant (88) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Tackle Chris Hubbard (74) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Tight end Nick Guggemos (48) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Guard Hjalte Froholdt (72) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Center Nick Harris (53) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Wide receiver Javon Wims (16) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Defensive end Curtis Weaver (59) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Defensive end Stephen Weatherly (91) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Safety John Johnson III (43) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (20) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Cornerback A.J. Green (38) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Phase II workouts on May 10, 2022.
Safety Ronnie Harrison Jr. (33) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Defensive end Stephen Weatherly (91) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (5) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Cornerback A.J. Green (38) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (5) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Linebacker Tony Fields II (42) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Phase II workouts on May 10, 2022.
Safety Grant Delpit (22) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (28) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Linebacker Sione Takitaki (44) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (20) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Safety Ronnie Harrison Jr. (33) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Phase II workouts on May 10, 2022.
Phase II workouts on May 10, 2022.
Linebacker Sione Takitaki (44) during the seventh day of Phase II of the offseason on May 10, 2022.
Now, lump in those potential upgraded teams with the Bills (11-6 in 2021), Patriots (10-7), Bucs (13-4) and reigning AFC champion Bengals (10-7) — all teams that don't appear to be regressing next season — and it's easy to see why a 17th-ranked strength of schedule can be deceiving. Don't forget about the Chargers (9-8), a team that battled the Browns to the final minute in their matchup last season, or the Dolphins (9-8), who now have All-Pro WR Tyreek Hill and an improved offensive line, or the Steelers (9-7-1), who always seem to be in the playoff hunt regardless of how their roster looks.
The Browns (8-9), of course, can be considered an upgraded team as well after the additions of QB Deshaun Watson and WR Amari Cooper to elevate the pass game and overall offense. The defense, meanwhile, finished fifth in the league in total defense last year and is largely returning its top young stars, and a complete overhaul on core special teams positions will certainly help the Browns improve as well.
The Browns are well-equipped to face anyone, but they still won't have nearly as many easier opponents as a 17th-ranked strength of schedule implies. Every season brings new and surprising risers and fallers in the standings, and the Browns appear to have several teams ahead who could be in the former category.
Browns 2022 opponents (2021 record)
Buffalo Bills (11-6)
New England Patriots (10-7)
Miami Dolphins (9-8)
New York Jets (4-13)
Los Angeles Chargers (9-8)
Houston Texans (4-13)
Washington Commanders (7-10)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-4)
New Orleans Saints (9-8)
Atlanta Falcons (7-10)
Carolina Panthers (5-12)
Cincinnati Bengals (10-7)
Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7-1)
Baltimore Ravens (8-9)
