BEREA — After much waiting, the Browns’ 2026 schedule will finally be released May 14. At that point, all of the guessing on what it will look like and when they’ll play who will be revealed.
But who really wants to wait, right? Not this person.
Everyone already knows who the Browns will be playing in 2026. We also know where, more or less.
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After going through multiple drafts, we’ve come up with an order for the Browns’ 17 regular-season games. Will it be anywhere close to right? Not a chance, but that’s not stopping us.
Can this projection at least get half right? Who knows?
Will it pull a 2017 Browns and go 0-for? That’s very much on the table.
2026 Cleveland Browns schedule predictions
Week 1: Away at Pittsburgh Steelers (1 p.m.)
The Browns have opened the season at home each of the last three seasons, including two of those against their AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals. It feels like the opener will be played on the road. When is a road game barely a road game? When it’s two hours down the road in Pittsburgh.
Week 2: Home vs. Atlanta Falcons (1 p.m.)
Speaking of road games that feel like home games, the Browns’ home opener will be coach Todd Monken’s first home regular-season game. So why not make the occasion extra special by making it former Browns coach Kevin Stefanski’s return to Cleveland with his new team, the Atlanta Falcons?
Week 3: Home vs. Cincinnati Bengals (1 p.m.)
Two AFC North games in the first three games? Sure, why not? It’s a projection, not the blueprints for a 40-story building. This seems as good a place as any for the first installment of the Battle of Ohio.
Week 4: Away at New York Jets (1 p.m.)
What could be a huge swing game for the Browns is one of two trips to the New York area to face its two NFL teams. It’s lovely in the swamps of New Jersey in early October.
Week 5: Home vs. Las Vegas Raiders (1 p.m.)
Three of four at home sounds like the opportunity for the Browns potentially to get off on the right foot if they can actually play well. It’s not only the location of the games, but the opponents that would help. Could this be Fernando Mendoza’s debut, or will he already be playing? Wonder what odds Vegas would give that this is the exact five-game start on the real schedule?
Week 6: Away at Baltimore Ravens (1 p.m.)
The Browns complete the first turn around the AFC North with half of their first six games in the division. At least, that’s how this projection sees things playing out.
Week 7: Away at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1 p.m.)
No Paris trip in this projection. But what’s better that a trip to Paris? A trip to lovely Tampa for the Browns to reacquaint themselves with Baker Mayfield.
Week 8: Home vs. Houston Texans (1 p.m.)
Time for one of the AFC South teams the Browns have to play to show up on the schedule. After going eenie-meenie-miney-moe, moe fell on the Texans, who go in this spot.
Week 9: Away at Cincinnati Bengals (Thursday night, 8:20 p.m.)
After not getting a prime-time game in 2025, the Browns feel like they at least land on “Thursday Night Football.” A road game in the division feels like the most likely option.
Week 10: Home vs. Indianapolis Colts (1 p.m.)
Colts have to come to Cleveland at some point. This is as good a spot as any.
Week 11: Away at Tennessee Titans (1 p.m.)
A year from now, this could’ve been played in the Titans’ new stadium. This time, it’s just a chance to see what Year 2 Cam Ward looks like.
Week 12: Bye week
Thanksgiving week bye? It’s a little later than their recent byes, but a holiday week off would be a nice trade off.
Week 13: Away at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m.)
Just what you want after a week of Thanksgiving leftovers — a trip to one of the great food cities in the world.
Week 14: Away at Jacksonville Jaguars (1 p.m.)
December in Florida. That’s why it’s placed here. Sure, it’s Jacksonville, but its still Jacksonville, FLORIDA.
Week 15: Home vs. Carolina Panthers (1 p.m.)
This week feels like it’ll be against an NFC South team. Carolina is the last one left to be scheduled.
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Week 16: Away at New York Giants (1 p.m.)
The weekend after Christmas in New York? Sounds good.
Week 17: Away at Baltimore Ravens (4:25 p.m.)
The final road game of the season is the next-to-last AFC North game for the Browns. Monken makes his third return to a previous stop this season, this one the place at which he coached the previous three seasons.
Week 18: Home vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (TBD)
It’s been a while since the Browns have closed out at home. How about ending the way the season began, against the Steelers?
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ. Sign up for Browns Insider newsletter at https://profile.beaconjournal.com/newsletters/browns-insider/
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: What will the Browns’ 2026 schedule look like? Predicting the order
Reporting by Chris Easterling, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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