Ready or not, the Browns are headed for prime time.

The NFL released the complete 2008 schedule Tuesday afternoon, and the Browns have a team-record five prime-time games. The previous best was three in 1988 and 1989.

The league considers the Browns a “hot” team after going a surprising 10-6 last season and just missing the playoffs. They also have big-name players in receiver Braylon Edwards, tight end Kellen Winslow and quarterbacks Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn.

“Today, we are excited for our fans, the city of Cleveland and the Browns organization that we will have the opportunity to be showcased in front of a national audience on several occasions,” coach Romeo Crennel said in a statement.

The Browns don’t open in prime time, but it’s another glamorous matchup as they host Tony Romo, Terrell Owens and the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 7 at 4:15 p.m. The Browns have opened at home every year since returning in 1999.

Then the prime-time games begin.

The Browns host Pittsburgh on Sunday, Sept. 14, at 8:15 on NBC. They have three Monday night games on ESPN — Oct. 13 vs. the Super Bowl champion New York Giants, Nov. 17 at Buffalo and Dec. 15 at Philadelphia. The Browns also host Denver on Thursday, Nov. 6, at 8:15 p.m. on NFL Network.

“I’m excited. Cleveland’s wanted this for a long time,” Braylon Edwards said in an interview on NFL Network. “Now we’re coming off a winning season and we’re thinking maybe a Monday night game, but here we get three Monday night games, a Sunday night game. We’ve got the game on NFL Network. I’m excited.

“We play in a small market. Now we have five nationally broadcast games so we can show the country, not just football fans, but the country, what we’re all about.”

Cleveland, making its first appearance on Monday night since 2003, shares the league lead with the Green Bay Packers with three games on ESPN.

The Browns’ only playoff appearance since returning to the league came in 2002 and they’ve gone 50-95 since 1999. Yet they’re the networks’ preseason darling.

“I don’t think they’re that team yet, deserving of five prime-time games,” NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders said.

“Somebody thinks they’re good. I do, too,” analyst Steve Mariucci said.

The Browns can’t afford to get infatuated with themselves, because they have one of the toughest schedules in the league. They will play the entire AFC South and NFC East, in addition to their perennial home-and-away matchups with AFC North rivals Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Cincinnati.

Seven of the Browns’ 13 opponents qualified for the playoffs in 2007. Pittsburgh, Indianapolis (AFC South) and Dallas (NFC East) won their divisions, while the N.Y. Giants (NFC wild card), Washington (NFC wild card), Jacksonville (AFC wild card) and Tennessee (AFC wild card) also earned postseason berths.

The combined 2007 record of the Browns’ opponents is 140-116 (.547), including each division opponent twice. Six opponents won 10 or more games: Indianapolis (13-3), Jacksonville (11-5), Pittsburgh (10-6), Dallas (10-6), N.Y. Giants (10-6) and Tennessee (10-6), which beat out the Browns for the final playoff spot in the AFC.

Other schedule tidbits:

** The Browns host the last three Super Bowl winners — Giants, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh.

** The Browns play three straight AFC North foes in Weeks 2-4, traveling to Baltimore and Cincinnati after hosting Pittsburgh. Crennel prefers a late bye week, but his team will be able to use the break when it comes in Week 5.

** The Cowboys are making their first visit since 1991.

** The Browns end the year at home vs. the Bengals on Dec. 21 and at Pittsburgh on Dec. 28.

** The Browns will visit Philadelphia for the first time since 1994.

** The Browns will visit Washington for the first time since 1991.

Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com.

 

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