2011 NFL Schedule: Looking at the Cleveland Browns' 5 Toughest Matchups

The Cleveland Browns' unveiling of their new defense and offense under head coach Pat Shurmur had both positive and negative moments.

The Browns were not able to take advantage of a winnable game yesterday against the Cincinnati Bengals, a team with both a rookie quarterback and wide receiver. Andy Dalton left the game with an injury and the Browns were still not able to close the door on backup Bruce Gradkowski.

The Browns were one of the teams that desperately needed the time that was lost during the lockout because of the fact that players needed to learn both new systems and it showed against the Bengals.

Although the Browns were not successful in getting a win in Week 1 for the 11th time in 12 attempts, the Browns still have an opportunity to turn it around because of a very favorable schedule.

Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts was supposed to be a tough matchup, but Cleveland has dodged a huge bullet as star quarterback Peyton Manning is now out indefinitely after having a third neck surgery in 19 months.

The team started the game with several stupid penalties and were not able to get anything going until late in the second quarter. Their lead that lasted almost an entire half came to a quick end with the Bengals took advantage of the Browns defense that was pretty much still in the huddle when they snapped the ball.

After watching the game, it is clear that there is a lot of work still to be done before Cleveland starts contending, and these five tough matchups will be the true test of if the Browns are heading in the right direction as a franchise.

Week 9 at Houston Texans

The Houston Texans are slowly becoming a force to be reckoned with in the AFC.

With one of the top running backs in the league in Arian Foster, the Browns will have a lot to handle in Week 9 when they travel to Houston.

The Browns have some tough matchups before Week 9 with away games in Oakland and San Francisco, but they're not as tough as going into Reliant Stadium.

If Cleveland is able to take advantage of the easy schedule early on, this could be a very important game for the Browns as they try and compete in the AFC North.

The Texans are very tough team on both sides of the ball and the Browns will have their hands full.

On offense, the Texans have a great runner in Foster as well as one of, if not the best wide receiver in the league in Andre Johnson.

Cleveland's new 4-3 defense will have a lot to deal with and there will be little room for error because if one is made it will most likely be for seven points.

It does not get any easier for Cleveland on offense as it has to go up against one of the toughest young defenses in the league.

Star defensive end Mario Williams and a talented linebacking corps—includes 2009 Rookie of the Year winner Brian Cushing—could very well likely give Colt McCoy fits.

Week 10 vs. St. Louis Rams

It does not get any easier for Cleveland after its game against the Texans as it takes on the St. Louis Rams, which is also a team on the rise in the NFL.

There will be plenty of storylines heading into this game as new Browns head coach Pat Shurmur will be going up against his old team, where he was an offensive coordinator.

Shurmur helped mold Offensive Rookie of the Year Sam Bradford into a top NFL quarterback, and unfortunately for Cleveland, the Browns will get to see the fruits of Shurmur's labor.

The Rams' front office added some weapons this offseason for Bradford in receiver Mike Sim-Walker as well as tight end Lance Kendricks, who was drafted in the second round of April's draft.

Cornerback Joe Haden and safety T.J. Ward could have their hands full against the top young receiving talent the Rams have to offer.

The Browns will also have to deal with a top running back in Steven Jackson.

A lot of people have been saying that Jackson's body is not getting any better because of his bruiser playing style, like that of Peyton Hillis, but Jackson has assured us he's still got it. Unfortunately for Jackson, he left with a quad injury in the Week 1 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles, but he could be back next week.

The Browns' defensive rookies in tackle Phil Taylor and end Jabaal Sheard will have to do their best to contain Jackson, which is no easy task. 

Week 13 vs. Baltimore Ravens

The Browns' first matchup against a divisional foe that is not the Cincinnati Bengals comes in Week 13 when the Baltimore Ravens come to town.

The Ravens won both matchups against Cleveland last year, and even though they lost two offensive weapons in the offseason in running back Willis McGahee and wide receiver Derrick Mason, they are still a very dangerous team.

They showed it in Week 1 when they dominated the AFC Super Bowl representative Pittsburgh Steelers.

Running back Ray Rice is becoming one of the top backs in the league and the Ravens came up big in free agency with the acquisition of former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Lee Evans.

The Browns' inexperienced defense will have a lot to work with against a talented Joe Flacco-led offense.

And the defense, well, we all know how impressive the Ravens defense can be and nothing has changed in the offseason.

Peyton Hillis had an outstanding first game against the Ravens last year when he ran for 144 yards, but was shut down in their second matchup, only running for 35 yards.

If Hillis can get going early on, a lot of pressure will be taken off Colt McCoy and it could be a competitive game.

Week 14 at Pittsburgh Steelers

After the Browns take on the Baltimore Ravens for the first time, they then head to enemy territory in Pittsburgh, battling the Steelers for the first time this season.

The last time these two teams met in Pittsburgh, both wide receivers Mohamed Massaquoi and Josh Cribbs left with concussions, compliments of linebacker James Harrison.

It was also the first time Browns fans saw Colt McCoy as the team's starting quarterback and he did well in his first game in the NFL.

If the Browns want to succeed against the Steelers, they will have to get good field position for their offense. We saw a lot today early on against the Bengals that if the Browns were behind their own 20-yard-line, they struggled to move the ball. However, in the second quarter when they got better field position, they were able to move the ball better.

If Cleveland starts the game with a couple three-and-outs, the game will be out of reach early because of the Steelers' powerful offense.

The player to watch in this game will be cornerback Joe Haden. Haden had an impressive Week 1 yesterday against the Cincinnati Bengals and will have to have yet another stellar performance against Pittsburgh's talented receivers in Hines Ward and Mike Wallace.

If Haden can help shut down the pass game, which will be a very difficult task, the Browns could stay in this one early on.

However, if they want to have any chance of winning, they cannot make any mistakes because Pittsburgh has shown in past matchups that it will make you pay for each one.

Week 17 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Just like last season, the Browns find themselves matched up against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Cleveland in the final week of the season.

Cleveland ended last season with a bad taste in its mouth, compliments of the Steelers dominating victory of 41-9.

Except for their great Thursday night victory two seasons ago in 2009, the Browns have not been able to defeat Pittsburgh in quite some time.

If the Browns cannot improve from their Week 1 loss to Cincinnati, there is a very good chance that misfortune will continue.

One player to focus on is tight end Benjamin Watson, who played well in Cleveland's first game against Pittsburgh last season.

Both Watson and Evan Moore showed against the Bengals that they are a force to be reckoned with, and if the Browns want to stay competitive against Pittsburgh, McCoy will have to utilize the size and the mismatches that these two bring.

If Cleveland can utilize the short tight end routes, the Browns will finally create a competitive rivalry with the Steelers and the games will actually be watchable.