CLEVELAND — "The Schedule Game" is a sports radio topic typically reserved for May, when hosts and callers alike do their best to project how their respective NFL teams' season will play out.
But on Thursday, Cleveland Browns fans found themselves running through their second -- or even third -- round of the game, following the news that the NFL and NFL Players Association (NFLPA) have agreed to an 11-game suspension and $5 million fine for Deshaun Watson following his violation's of the league's Personal Conduct Policy.
Barring an acquisition at the position in the coming weeks -- Jimmy Garoppolo, anybody? -- Jacoby Brissett is currently slated to start at quarterback for the first 11 games of the Browns' 2022 season. How many games does Cleveland need Brissett to win to keep the Browns in contention before Watson returns? Let's take a look.
Week 1 @ Carolina Panthers
Between Watson's rust and the difficulty of the final six games of the season, it's probably realistic to think that a 4-2 run to close the 2022 campaign is Cleveland's best-case scenario. As a result, the Browns likely need to go at least 6-5 with Brissett in the lineup -- although 5-6 could at least keep hope alive.
Looking at Cleveland's first 11 games, five stand out as being clearly more difficult than the rest. The Browns' season opener against the Carolina Panthers, however, is not one of those games, meaning that Cleveland will likely need to beat its former quarterback, Baker Mayfield, and win its first season opener since 2004.
Week 2 vs. New York Jets
There aren't many games on the Browns' 2022 schedule that appear easier than their Week 2 home opener vs. the New York Jets, who could be without starting quarterback Zach Wilson. If Cleveland is going to stay on track ahead of Watson's return, it's going to need to pick up the easy wins where it can get them -- and this should be one of them.
Week 3 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Divisional games are rarely easy and the Pittsburgh Steelers' track record vs. the Browns speaks for itself. Still, Cleveland is currently favored to win this game, which will be played in primetime on Thursday Night Football at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Despite being a divisional contest, this likely isn't as much of a must-win as the games against the Panthers and Jets are. But if the Browns lose to the Steelers at home, they'll likely need to make up for it by beating one of the remaining teams they aren't favored against.
Week 4 @ Atlanta Falcons
Even with Watson sidelined, there's a good chance that Cleveland will be favored to win its first four games of the season. Even with this game being on the road, the Brissett and the Browns will either need to beat the Atlanta Falcons or make up for a loss somewhere else on their schedule.
Week 5 vs. Los Angeles Chargers
A trendy preseason Super Bowl pick, the Los Angeles Chargers are currently slated to be the first team to be favored over Cleveland on its 2022 schedule. Despite the game being played at FirstEnergy Stadium, this is one the Browns can afford to lose -- although a win would give Cleveland a larger margin for error elsewhere on its schedule.
Week 6 vs. New England Patriots
Even in the post-Tom Brady era, the New England Patriots are hardly a walkover -- and sportsbooks currently project the Browns to be underdogs in this game. This isn't a game Cleveland needs to win, but it would behoove the Browns to at least split their two-game homestand vs. the Chargers and Patriots.
Week 7 at Baltimore Ravens
This was originally going to be Watson's Browns' debut, before the NFL appealed the six-game suspension that former U.S. District Judge Sue L. Robinson initially issued. With the Baltimore Ravens currently favored to win the AFC North, this is a game that Cleveland can likely count on losing -- although it's always beneficial to a division game.
Week 8 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
A game on Halloween against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football was shaping up to be one of the most highly anticipated dates on the Browns' 2022 schedule. But without Watson on the field, it will be tougher for Cleveland to out-duel Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense.
This isn't a game the Browns should be expected to win, but it's one that would benefit them greatly if they did. Ideally, Cleveland would at least split its first games against the Ravens and Bengals, although it could afford to lose both of them.
Week 10 @ Miami Dolphins
Coming out of their bye week, the Browns will head to South Beach to face the Miami Dolphins, in what could prove to be one of Cleveland's most important games of the season. While Caesar's Sportsbook currently lists the Dolphins as a four-point favorite, this is the kind of game that Cleveland will need to win to stay on track -- especially considering the four opponents this game is sandwiched between.
Week 11 @ Buffalo Bills
Of all of the games on the Browns' 2022 schedule, a road game against the current Super Bowl favorite Buffalo Bills with Brissett at quarterback appears to be the least winnable -- as evidenced by Cleveland currently finding itself a 10.5-point underdog. The only way this game becomes a must-win for the Browns is if they've lost to other opponents they were counting on beating.
Week 12 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The final game that Brissett is currently slated to slate comes against his former Patriots teammate, Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While this game should be more winnable for Cleveland than the previous week against Buffalo will be, it will still enter the contest as an underdog with the previous 11 weeks determining how much the Browns will need another win before Watson takes over.
Conclusion
If the Browns are going to give Watson a chance to lead them to the playoffs in the final six games, a 4-0 start to the season could prove imperative for Cleveland. From there, the Browns would benefit greatly by at least winning one of its two games against the Chargers or Patriots.
Assuming Cleveland can do at least that -- and that could prove to be a big ask -- that would leave the Browns in need of one more win to amass a 6-5 record before Watson's return. Back-to-back division games against the Ravens and Bengals will be tough and if Cleveland can't win at least one of those, then all eyes will shift to the Browns' Nov. 13 date vs. the Dolphins.
