Browns strength of schedule among toughest in NFL in 2024

Anthony Alandt

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Browns strength of schedule among toughest in NFL in 2024 image

In one of the most important seasons for the Browns in recent years, they might be faced with the steepest hill to climb.

Not only are multiple key contributors like Deshaun Watson and Nick Chubb returning from season-ending injuries, but Cleveland's strength of schedule ranks among the hardest in the NFL, according to two reports.

The Browns have the No. 30 schedule, or third-hardest in the NFL, according to Sharp Football Analysis. the NFL released its own strength of schedule and determined Cleveland had the hardest schedule in the league.

Only the Patriots and the Steelers have projected harder schedules than Cleveland, a team coming off an 11-6 regular season and a Wild Card round exit.

Cleveland had one of the easiest strengths of schedule in 2023 and, along with 10 other teams in the bottom half of the league's SOS, they finished with a record above .500. According to Sharp Football Analysis, overachieving against a schedule that ranks in the top half of difficulty is extremely hard to accomplish. This past year, four out of the 17 teams finished the season with a better record than they had projected.

Browns strength of schedule among toughest in NFL in 2024

Simply looking at the names on the Browns' 2024 schedule shows exactly why they have one of the hardest projected years in the league. It's a slate that includes the reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs and a total of seven games against teams fresh off a playoff birth.

They are scheduled to face off against the Saints, the Raiders, the Commanders, the Giants and the Broncos, all of whom are currently projected to finish in the bottom 10 of the league. But buried in each of those teams is a potential for landmines.

Those five games alone feature two first-round rookie quarterbacks, a Giants team returning Daniel Jones with more weapons and a Raiders team looking to build off the strides interim head coach Antonio Pierce made last season.

Currently, the Bengals is projected to have the sixth-easiest schedule next year, while the Ravens rank 29th and the Steelers sit with the hardest schedule in the NFL.

Here is a breakdown of the Browns' 2024 opponents with 2023 record and implied win total:

TeamHome/AwayImplied 2024 win total2023 record
EaglesAway10.3511-6
DolphinsHome9.8511-6
SteelersHome & Away8.610-7
JaguarsAway8.659-8
ChiefsHome11.511-6
CowboysHome10.412-5
RavensHome & Away11.313-4
BengalsHome & Away10.69-8
SaintsAway7.69-8
ChargersHome8.95-12
GiantsHome6.256-11
BroncosAway5.758-9
CommandersAway6.64-13
RaidersAway6.758-9

Anthony Alandt

Anthony Alandt Photo

Anthony Alandt covers the Cleveland Browns as a contributing writer for The Sporting News. While at Syracuse University, he covered nearly all sports on campus, including the Orange’s FBS bowl games in 2022 and 2023. He also works as an assistant media relations person for the Norfolk Tides, the Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. Anthony is a Cleveland fan through and through, and you can follow his opinions on all the teams at @anthonyalandt on X.