How Many Wins Remain on Cleveland Browns' 2026 NFL Schedule After Week 5 Loss?

A 3-1 start going into Week 5 was a real reason for optimism for the Cleveland Browns. A Week 5 loss to the New York Jets was a harsh reality check.

The Browns have a defense that can keep them in any game from week to week. They also have an offense that can't be counted on to win games.

The first four weeks, the result was a team that could sneak into the playoffs. Week 5 looked more like a team on its way to a top-five draft pick.

The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. Let's take a look at the schedule and make week-by-week predictions to see where Cleveland could be by the end of the season.

October

AP Photo/Nick Wass

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson

Week 6: Ravens at Browns

Lamar Jackson appears to be trending in the direction of playing on Sunday. That's bad news. The Browns' offense doesn't currently inspire confidence that it can keep up.

Ravens 24, Browns 10 (Cleveland falls to 3-3)

Week 7: Browns at Titans

The Titans are still in search of their first win. The Browns haven't been the kind of team that just hands those out under Monken.

Browns 17, Titans 9 (Cleveland moves to 4-3)

November

AP Photo

Steelers RB Jaylen Warren

Week 8: Browns at Steelers

A shift to a heavier run script with Jaylen Warren could make this a different game in Pittsburgh. He's on fire and the Steelers put too much on Aaron Rodgers in the first meeting.

Steelers 23, Browns 20 (Cleveland falls to 4-4)

Week 9: Browns at Saints

The NFC South has been good to the Browns so far. They are 2-0 against the Panthers and Bucs. Meanwhile, the Saints are just 1-4 with a middling offense and a suspect defense.

Browns 27, Saints 17 (Cleveland moves to 5-4)

Week 10: Texans at Browns

A return to home against another team that is 1-4 provides another good opportunity for a win. It is a little concerning that C.J. Stroud and the defense got things rolling with a 26-3 win in Tennessee last weekend.

Texans 20, Browns 13 (Cleveland falls to 5-5)

Week 11: Bye Week

Week 12: Raiders at Browns

The Raiders' 3-0 start doesn't look as great in the light of their 45-17 loss in New England last week. The schedule isn't kind to them between now and then. Expect a rested Browns team to beat Vegas for the second year in a row.

Browns 28, Raiders 17 (Cleveland moves to 6-5)

December

AP Photo/Ella Hall

Week 13: Bengals at Browns

The Browns have to wait a long time to get to their first meeting with their Ohio rival this year. That might be good because it gives the defense time to continue to get better under Mike Rutenberg. The unit has held the Bengals to under 20 in their last two meetings and will give them a chance.

Browns 16, Bengals 13 (Cleveland moves to 7-5)

Week 14: Falcons at Browns

The Kevin Stefanski Bowl might just come down to who is starting at quarterback for the Falcons. Bijan Robinson will give the defense trouble and oft-injured Michael Penix Jr. looked good on Sunday night before suffering a rib injury.

Falcons 23, Browns 20 (Cleveland falls to 7-6)

Week 15: Browns at Giants

The Giants are the NFC version of the Browns at this point. They are 3-1-1, but favorable scheduling is doing a lot of the heavy lifting in that record. Beating John Harbaugh on the road has been historically difficult for the Browns.

Giants 17, Browns 13 (Cleveland falls to 7-7)

Week 16: Browns at Ravens

It's going to be hard enough for the Browns to beat the Ravens at home this week and Lamar Jackson isn't even officially cleared to play. It's going to be even more difficult to win on the road in the middle of the final stretch.

Ravens 31, Browns 17 (Cleveland falls to 7-8)

January

AP Photo/Jeff Dean

Bengals QB Joe Burrow

Week 17: Colts at Browns

The final home game of the season comes against a defense that currently ranks 27th in defensive EPA per play. Indianapolis' 34-22 loss to Pittsburgh on Sunday should have the Browns feeling good about this one.

Browns 27, Colts 16 (Cleveland moves to 8-8)

Week 18: Browns at Bengals

Under these predictions, the Browns would enter Week 18 at 8-8, potentially still in playoff contention depending on results elsewhere. Even if a postseason berth remained within reach, though, it's hard to trust this offense to outscore the Bengals on the road.

Bengals 24, Browns 12 (Cleveland falls to 8-9)