2017 Cleveland Browns Schedule: Full Listing of Dates, Times and TV Info

Bold as it may sound, the Cleveland Browns are primed to take a couple of sizable steps forward in 2017. 

Although they finished 1-15 last season as their rebuild sputtered to a concerning degree, the Browns made solid improvements in free agency and are primed to add several difference-makers in the NFL draft later this month. 

Consider that they own two first-round picks, including the No. 1 overall selection, and the Browns could be in line to quadruple or quintuple their win total from last season. 

And while that final record may not be anything to write home about, a program with clear direction and improved personnel on both sides of the ball should give the Browns a foundation to take solace in as they attempt to climb out of the AFC North cellar. 

Here's a look at the opponents Cleveland will face starting in September, courtesy of the team's official website. 

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Time (ET)	TV
1	Sunday, Sept. 10	vs. Pittsburgh Steelers	1 p.m.	CBS
2	Sunday, Sept. 17	at Baltimore Ravens	1 p.m.	CBS
3	Sunday, Sept. 24	at Indianapolis Colts	1 p.m.	CBS
4	Sunday, Oct. 1	vs. Cincinnati Bengals	1 p.m.	CBS
5	Sunday, Oct. 8	vs. New York Jets	1 p.m.	Fox
6	Sunday, Oct. 15	at Houston Texans	1 p.m.	CBS
7	Sunday, Oct. 22	vs. Tennessee Titans	1 p.m.	CBS
8	Sunday, Oct. 29	vs. Minnesota Vikings (London)	9:30 a.m.	NFL Network
9	BYE	------	------	------
10	Sunday, Nov. 12	at Detroit Lions	1 p.m.	CBS
11	Sunday, Nov. 19	vs. Jacksonville Jaguars	1 p.m.	CBS
12	Sunday, Nov. 26	at Cincinnati Bengals	1 p.m.	CBS
13	Sunday, Dec. 3	at Los Angeles Chargers	4:05 p.m.	CBS
14	Sunday, Dec. 10	vs. Green Bay Packers	1 p.m.	Fox
15	Sunday, Dec. 17	vs. Baltimore Ravens	1 p.m.	CBS
16	Sunday, Dec. 24	at Chicago Bears	1 p.m.	CBS
17	Sunday, Dec. 31	at Pittsburgh Steelers	1 p.m.	CBS

Analysis

Frederick Breedon/Getty Images

The Browns aren't a star-studded bunch by any means, but they are primed to make gains in the trenches after spending significantly on their offensive line in free agency. 

According to The Ringer's Robert Mays: "Cleveland now has $47 million tied up in its offensive line, the highest mark in the league and a huge jump from its ranking of 22nd ($15 million) last season. Just like that, the Browns went from having a league-average offensive line to one of the best."

Not only do the Browns have Joe Thomas entrenched as their left tackle to protect the blind side, but they added center JC Tretter and right guard Kevin Zeitler to flank newly extended left guard Joel Bitonio. 

However, the rest of Cleveland's offense is defined by uncertainty. 

The Browns are still without a clear quarterback of the future—a problem that could be addressed in the draft—a true No. 1 receiver and a bell-cow running back, which means points could be hard to come by once again. 

But if head coach Hue Jackson can find a way to institute a ball-control offense that doesn't put too much pressure on the passer, the Browns could become a more consistent unit overall. 

Pivotal Matchups

Joe Sargent/Getty Images

The Browns don't figure to be jockeying for playoff position in 2017, but they can use a pair of games against the Cincinnati Bengals as a measuring stick when it comes to their standing in the AFC North. 

While the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens remain entrenched as postseason contenders, the Bengals lost key talent in the offseason and are primed for regression a season after they finished 6-9-1. 

If the Browns can come up with a pair of wins against Marvin Lewis' squad, they could threaten to move up to third in the AFC North and finish outside of the cellar for the first time since 2010. 

The Browns—whose strength of schedule ranks tied for 21st overall, per CBSSports.com's John Breech—will also have a chance to flash marked improvement and pick up wins against the New York Jets and Chicago Bears. 

One other matchup to keep an eye on is Cleveland's tilt against the Los Angeles Chargers. L.A. is the only team the Browns defeated last season, and the Chargers will assuredly be out for revenge this time around.