Following an off season of pure excitement, Cleveland Browns fans have waited in anticipation for the 2019 regular season schedule to be released. The wait is over.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! 📆
Our 2019 schedule is set.
Details » https://t.co/usVpD4VT1r pic.twitter.com/CfIq4w68xb
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) April 18, 2019
After finishing 2018 at 7-8-1 following a combined 1-31 the previous two years, 2019 could finally mark a return to playoff glory for the Browns under first time head coach Freddie Kitchens.
The blockbuster trade to acquire wide receiver Odell Beckham adds even more intrigue for a team that features a young nucleus of talent on the offensive side of the football.
The Browns are expected to be featured prominently in prime time. A quarter of the season will be played under the lights in front of a national television audience. Cleveland will appear twice on Monday Night Football, and once on Sunday Night Football and Thursday Night Football. It’s the most prime time games since the team had five back in 2008.
The Browns will face the AFC East and NFC West in 2019. As a result, Cleveland will face both participants from Super Bowl 53, the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams. So what does the schedule look like? Well here it is in its entirely.
EXCLUSIVE: The exact moment GM John Dorsey got our schedule pic.twitter.com/EC1tAvMs4E
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) April 18, 2019
The season kicks off on Sunday September 8 when the Tennessee Titans visit FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns will look to win its season opener for the first time since 2004.
The first of two appearances on Monday Night Football takes place in week two. The Browns travel to Met Life Stadium and face the New York Jets. This matchup will commemorate the anniversary of first ever Monday Night Football game between the two teams on September 20, 1970.
Week three, the Brown make their first appearance on NBC’s Sunday Night Football since 2008. Cleveland welcomes the Rams to town.
The first AFC North divisional game takes place in week four. The Browns travel to Baltimore to face the Ravens.
Week five its the second appearance on Monday Night Football. Cleveland travels across the country to face the San Francisco 49ers.
In week six, the Browns continue their stretch of games against the NFC West. The league’s highest paid player, Russell Wilson leads his Seattle Seahawks into FirstEnergy Stadium.
The Browns bye week takes place in week seven. Weeks eight and nine feature back to back road games at the Patriots and Denver Broncos respectively.
After the back back road trips, the NFL rewards the Browns with three straight home games against the Buffalo Bills in week ten. The hated Pittsburgh Steelers in week eleven and the Miami Dolphins in week 12.
The Browns face the Steelers twice in a span of three weeks. The week eleven game will be on Thursday night football. Week 13 Cleveland hopes to leave Heinz Field with a victory for the first time since 2003.
Round one in the ‘Battle of Ohio’ does not take place until week 14. The Cincinnati Bengals travel up Interstate 71. The Browns make the return trip to the banks of the Ohio River to conclude the season in week 17.
The Arizona Cardinals and perhaps the matchup of the last two Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray will take place down in the desert in week 15.
The Ravens visit Cleveland to conclude the home portion of the 2019 schedule in week 16.
“It’s great to get the schedule but honestly it really doesn’t matter where the games fall. It’s our job to be ready, regardless of when or what time we play,” Browns coach Freddie Kitchens said. “We know our fans are very excited about the season and we know they will carry that excitement into the season opener. Right now, our focus must be on ourselves and not on any other team.“For us, it’s about coming to work every day, intent on improvement.”
The kick off times for the preseason games have also been announced. The week one (Thursday, August 8 vs. Washington Redskins,) week three (Friday, August 23 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and week four (Thursday, August 29 vs. Detroit Lions) games will all start at 7:30 p.m. The week two game at the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, August 17 is a 4 p.m. kickoff.
Scott Piker is the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Indians Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage.com. So follow him on twitter @ScottPikerSport
