The Cleveland Browns are not the biggest story in town after NBA star LeBron James left the Cavaliers for Miami in the offseason. But they too will have a much different look this season under second-year head coach Eric Mangini and with Team President Mike Holmgren now on board. Gone are former quarterbacks Derek Anderson (Arizona) and Brady Quinn (Denver) in favor of veterans Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace along with rookie Colt McCoy. Cleveland also brought in TE Benjamin Watson and WR Bobby Engram to help stabilize a young receiving corps that is led by Chansi Stuckey, Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi. Delhomme is expected to be the starter for the regular-season opener and will not have a receiver like he did in Carolina with Steve Smith, but he will need to play a key role in developing the youngsters.
Odds to win AFC North Division: +1000
Odds to win the AFC Conference: 40/1
Cleveland Browns Odds to win Super Bowl XLV: 80/1
Regular Season Wins Total Line: 5.5
*all odds quoted from Bodog*
Following is a breakdown of this season’s schedule for the Browns:
Week 1 Sunday, September 12, 2010 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Analysis: The bad news is that the Browns have to open the season on the road, but the good news is that it’s against the Bucs, who Delhomme has dominated over the years.
Week 2 Sunday, September 19, 2010 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Analysis: Cleveland’s home opener gives the team a legitimate shot at a 2-0 record before going up against playoff teams from last year in five of the next seven games.
Week 3 Sunday, September 26, 2010 @ Baltimore Ravens
Analysis: The Browns managed to score only three points total in losing both meetings with the Ravens last season while surrendering 50.
Week 4 Sunday, October 3, 2010 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Analysis: Cleveland played Cincinnati tough in a 23-20 loss at home last year behind 148 receiving yards from Massaquoi and 121 rushing yards from Jerome Harrison.
Week 5 Sunday, October 10, 2010 vs. Atlanta Falcons
Analysis: The Browns host the Falcons to complete a stretch of three home games in four weeks before visiting Pittsburgh and New Orleans.
Week 6 Sunday, October 17, 2010 @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Analysis: This could be the first game of the season for Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger unless he comes back earlier or NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell makes him sit out his full six-game suspension.
Week 7 Sunday, October 24, 2010 @ New Orleans Saints
Analysis: Delhomme knows what it’s like to face New Orleans from his days with the Panthers but did not enjoy his last game there (a 30-20 loss to the defending Super Bowl champs).
Week 8 — BYE WEEK —
Week 9 Sunday, November 7, 2010 vs. New England Patriots
Analysis: The schedule does not get any easier for Cleveland after the bye week, but Mangini is familiar with New England from his time in New York and while working as an assistant under Bill Belichick.
Week 10 Sunday, November 14, 2010 vs. New York Jets
Analysis: Speaking of the Jets, Mangini faces his former team for the first time since getting fired following the Brett Favre debacle and still knows many of the current players.
Week 11 Sunday, November 21, 2010 @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Analysis: The Browns begin arguably the hardest part of their schedule by playing four road games in the next five weeks, starting in Jacksonville.
Week 12 Sunday, November 28, 2010 vs. Carolina Panthers
Analysis: Delhomme will get a chance for revenge against his former team here at home if he is still Cleveland’s starting QB.
Week 13 Sunday, December 5, 2010 @ Miami Dolphins
Analysis: The Dolphins host the Browns in the middle of road games at Oakland and New York.
Week 14 Sunday, December 12, 2010 @ Buffalo Bills
Analysis: The Bills play their last non-divisional game of the year against Cleveland before wrapping up the season against the Dolphins, Patriots and Jets.
Week 15 Sunday, December 19, 2010 @ Cincinnati Bengals
Analysis: The Bengals get a break at home against the Browns after playing the Jets, Saints and Steelers in the previous three weeks.
Week 16 Sunday, December 26, 2010 vs. Baltimore Ravens
Analysis: The Ravens will be coming off a home game against the Saints and finish the regular season by hosting the Bengals after their last road game at Cleveland.
Week 17 Sunday, January 2, 2011 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Analysis: The Browns were the fifth straight – and final – team to beat the Steelers last season en route to ending their shot at the playoffs after winning the Super Bowl the year before.
