The last Cleveland Browns coach to make it to a fifth season was Bill Belichick.
How much pressure does that put on Kevin Stefanski in 2023? Cleveland finished 7-10 in 2022; a season in which quarterback Deshan Watson served an 11-game suspension.
The Browns were 3-3 when Watson returned, and it's a prove-it year for a roster that still features a core of All-Pro talent in Myles Garrett, Nick Chubb and Joel Bitonio. Cleveland signed Dalvin Tomlinson to a four-year, $57 million contract via free agency to beef up the defensive line and added receiver Elijah Moore to the offense.
The Browns do have a win total set at 9.5; a nod to the strength of that roster – even in one of the toughest divisions in football in the AFC North with the Bengals (11.5), Ravens (10.5) and Steelers (8.5).
Given Cleveland has finished no higher than third in the division under Stefanski, that might be a bit presumptuous. The Browns have a last-place schedule that features the
Here is a complete breakdown of the Browns' 2023 schedule, including dates, start times and analysis for all 17 games.
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Cleveland Browns schedule 2023
| Week | Date | Opponent | Kickoff time | TV |
| 1 | Sept. 10 | vs. Bengals | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| 2 | Sept. 18 | at Steelers (MNF) | 8:15 p.m. ET | ABC |
| 3 | Sept. 24 | vs. Titans | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| 4 | Oct. 1 | vs. Ravens | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| 5 | Oct. 8 | Bye | ||
| 6 | Oct. 15 | vs. 49ers | 1 p.m. ET | Fox |
| 7 | Oct. 22 | at Colts | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| 8 | Oct. 29 | at Seahawks | 4:05 p.m. ET | Fox |
| 9 | Nov. 5 | vs. Cardinals | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| 10 | Nov. 12 | at Ravens | 1 p.m. ET | Fox |
| 11 | Nov. 19 | vs. Steelers | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| 12 | Nov. 26 | at Broncos | 4:05 p.m. ET | Fox |
| 13 | Dec. 3 | at Rams | 4:25 p.m. ET | Fox |
| 14 | Dec. 10 | vs. Jaguars | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| 15 | Dec. 17 | vs. Bears | 1 p.m. ET | Fox |
| 16 | Dec. 24 | at Texans | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| 17 | Dec. 28 | vs. Jets (TNF) | 8:15 p.m. ET | Prime Video |
| 18 | TBD | at Bengals | TBD | TBD |
Cleveland was the only team with a losing record in the AFC North last season; yet another nod to the strength of that division. The last-place schedule means the Browns get the Jets, Broncos and Bears on top of a schedule that features the AFC South and NFC West.
The Browns have seven games against teams that made the NFL postseason in 2022. That includes two apiece against the Bengals and Ravens along with the Jaguars, 49ers and Seahawks. Jacksonville and San Francisco have to come to FirstEnergy Stadium.
MORE: NFL strength of schedule breakdown for all 32 teams
Browns strength of schedule
The Browns have the 14th-easiest schedule in the NFL for 2023, per Sharp Football Analysis. This analysis is based on the projected win totals for each of Cleveland's opponents for the upcoming season rather than their record in 2023.
It's the second-toughest schedule in the AFC North, according to those rankings. Pittsburgh (11th easiest) is ahead of the Browns, and the Bengals (15th easiest) and Ravens (11th hardest) are after Cleveland.
Will Cleveland get off to another fast start? In the first four games of the season, the Browns are 8-4 under Stefanski. In the last four games of the season, the Browns are 5-7 in that three-year stretch. Another fast start needs to happen.
Toughest tests: The home schedule is not easy. San Francisco and Jacksonville made the playoffs, but they were a combined 8-10 on the road last season. Will those warm-weather teams run into some inhospitable weather? You never know in Cleveland, but count on the Browns to be underdogs in those games.
The Jets beat Cleveland 31-30 in a thriller at FirstEnergy Stadium last season. That game becomes more difficult for the Browns with Aaron Rodgers coming to town. Those teams also will meet in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton on Aug. 3.
There also is the rare road matchup against the Seahawks, where the Browns have lost the last three meetings. Cleveland has won at Seattle since Nov. 12, 1989.
Biggest breaks: A last-place schedule has some benefits. Cleveland plays all six teams that won five games or last season, an undistinguished group that includes the Broncos, Rams, Colts, Cardinals, Texans and Bears.
Four of those games – Denver, Los Angeles, Indianapolis and Houston – are on the road. Those teams combined for a 10-22-1 record at home last season. That's the bulk of the road schedule outside the division, and the Colts and Texans likely will have rookie quarterbacks. The Rams should have a bounce-back season, but this is a negotiable stretch. If Cleveland wants to make a legitimate playoff push, then a split or better in those games is mandatory.
Bottom line: This is a prove-it year for all parties involved. Stefanski is in the pivotal fourth season. The 2022 season was derailed by a four-game losing streak in October. The Browns had a three-game losing streak in 2021.
Watson is in the second year of a five-year deal worth $230 million. This is a division that features Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson. Is Watson worth that price?
Despite the ups-and-downs last year, Cleveland swept the home games against the Bengals, Steelers and Ravens. In three seasons, Stefanski has led the Browns to a .500 record in the regular season against AFC North opponents, and that does not include the 48-37 AFC Wild Card victory against the Steelers on Jan. 10, 2021.
Those matchups against Pittsburgh will be turning points in 2023.
If Cleveland can maintain that .500 or better record against the division and take care of business against the lightweights on the schedule, then a return to the postseason is possible. That win total still looks high, however, when you're dealing with a franchise that was 1-7 in games decided by eight points or less in 2022.
Will Stefanski and Watson be the difference in that stretch? In this division, those close games will make the difference.
Record prediction: 8-9
