The NFL released the 2011 Cleveland Browns schedule Tuesday night, and one season after playing every game at 1:00pm et, the Browns will return to primetime when they face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday, December 8 on NFL Network.
Last season, the Browns played all 16 of their regular season games at 1PM et, a scheduling quirk I had never seen before. The Steelers won’t travel to Cleveland until January 1st, when they’ll visit Cleveland Browns Stadium.
The Browns will open the 2011 Regular Season at home against the Cincinnati Bengals on September 11, the 12th time in 13 seasons they Browns will open the season at home.
The rest of September has the Browns traveling to face the Indianapolis Colts on 9/18 and hosting the Miami Dolphins on 9/25.
In October, the Browns host the Tennessee Titans(10/2). The Browns will enjoy their BYE week on October 9, Week 5 in the NFL. The team will then travel to face the Oakland Raiders(10/16) before returning home for the Seattle Seahawks(10/23) before going right back west to face the San Fancisco 49ers(10/30).
November sees the Browns play road games against the Houston Texans(11/6) and Cincinnati(11/27) around home games against the St. Louis Rams(11/13) and the Jacksonville Jaguars(11/20).
December will find the Browns on the road, alot. After a home game against the Baltimore Ravens(12/4), the Browns head out on the road for three straight games – Pittsburgh(12/8), the Arizona Cardinals(12/18) and back to Baltimore(12/24).
The season concludes New Year’s Day 2012 at home against the Steelers.