Dawgs By Nature: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Network Message: 50% Off: CBS/SB Nation Fantasy Baseball

Browns to Battle Super Bowl Champions

The 2007-2008 season is officially over (Pro Bowl is merely for entertainment's sake).

For those of you that are Cleveland Indians fans, perhaps you've taken some joy in the sudden downfall of Boston teams the past few days. On Sunday, the Patriots lost the Super Bowl to the New York Giants. Last night, the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Boston Celtics at The Q, improving to 2-1 against them on the season. One thing stands out about the Boston teams still though: they are in the spotlight. Cleveland teams have approached that spotlight over the past year, but have come up short.

-The Indians barely missed making the World Series.
-The Cavs were a disappointment in the NBA Finals.
-The Browns undeservedly missed the postseason.

With all of that promise comes recognition. We've already seen part of that displayed with six Browns being named to the Pro Bowl. Next year, the recognition should progress into at least two prime time games. Could one of those games be against one of the NFC's finest?

By virtue of the New York Giants winning last night, the Cleveland Browns will be guaranteed a home game against the defending Super Bowl Champions this season. When Derek Anderson took over the starting role last season, the Browns went undefeated at home. On the same note, the Giants were a miraculous 12-0 on the road last season. The league seems to be in love with broadcasting the Giants, Colts, Cowboys, and Patriots in prime time. The maximum amount of prime time games a team can have in a season is six. The Giants had five prime time games last season when they weren't even considered Super Bowl contenders.

Therefore, there's potentially already a 37.5% chance that the Browns will face the Giants in prime time (including flex games potential). Last season, 25% of the Giants' AFC games were shown in prime time. The team they faced, the Patriots, had a winning record (so do the Browns). The Colts, the defending Super Bowl champions last season, had two of their games against NFC teams in prime time (one against a winner, one against a loser).

I would've suggested the slight chance of the Browns facing the Giants in the first game of the NFL season, but that's not going to happen. Every year the past several seasons, the Super Bowl champions have opened up the season at home. Although technically, you can make a case that their advantage does come on the road.

So, here's the big question: let's assume the Browns have a maximum of two prime time games this season. Who would you like to see those games come against? And, do you think the Browns would be too humbled to face the Giants in prime time, and may perform better in the daytime?

(For reference, here are the Browns' opponents this season):

HOME: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants
AWAY: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins

0 recs  |  Comment 12 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Re: Browns to Battle Super Bowl Champions
I would love a Broncos primetime game. I loathe Denver and watching us beat them in front of the whole world would be fantastic.
At least I wasn't born in Denver

by fwembt on Feb 6, 2008 11:25 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Re: Browns to Battle Super Bowl Champions
I should've surmised that from your signature :p It's a shame Denver is one of the most boring teams in the league right now in my opinion (and therefore less likely to be featured in prime time).

Who knows though; for whatever reason, the Broncos were given FIVE frickin prime time games last year.

With that type of "respect", maybe I'm way underestimating the amount of prime time games the Browns will receive.

by Chris Pokorny on Feb 6, 2008 11:46 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Re: Browns to Battle Super Bowl Champions
Cowboys - Could make for a shoot out.

Steelers - Just because

by dvd1204 on Feb 6, 2008 2:05 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Re: Browns to Battle Super Bowl Champions
Although it got a little old seeing the Cowboys play in prime time last year, that's probably my top game right now. As fun as facing the Super Bowl Champions would be, Tony Romo and Terrell Owens still have more "creditability" so to speak (it's hard to convey what I'm trying to say...it's just something atmospherically...)

I'm a little weary on the Steelers one. Too many losses to them has me cowering on the thought of being embarrassed by them again :(

by Chris Pokorny on Feb 6, 2008 2:29 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Re: Browns to Battle Super Bowl Champions
My guess is 4 primetime games for the Brownies next year.

Sunday Night @ Pittsburgh
Sunday Night @ Jacksonville
Sunday Night Denver
Monday Night Colts

What a great schedule the Browns have for viewing next year.

by volpe77 on Feb 6, 2008 11:07 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Re: Browns to Battle Super Bowl Champions
Should be an exciting 2008 season....

www.clevelandbrowns.contentquake.com

by brownsfan76 on Feb 7, 2008 8:15 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Re: Browns to Battle Super Bowl Champions
I'd like to see the Steelers at home, and the Titans on the road. Fuckers stole a playoff slot, and I want the boys to show definitively prove who belonged and who didn't.
Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.

by BringBackKosar on Feb 7, 2008 10:46 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Re: Browns to Battle Super Bowl Champions
The Browns won't get a Monday night game until 2009 and that depends on making the playoffs. Perhaps they get a flex Monday Night game if they and say the Steelers, Jacksonville or Tenn. are also say 8 and 2 towards the end of the year.

I'm also a Tampa fan and even though they won their division I'll be shocked if they get more than one prime time game (seems teams always get at least one Monday night game if they made the playoffs during the prior year).

Prime Time games, especially Monday Nights Football seems to go tot he same 12 or 13 teams over and over. I suppose it makes sense as the Cowboys or New England will bring in more ratings than a Cleveland or Houston, but it's frustrating to fans of the smaller market teams.

by mgtbfb on Feb 7, 2008 2:33 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Re: Browns to Battle Super Bowl Champions
Market plays a big role, but I think we will get up to 2 games. The Browns are a high-scoring team now which the networks usually like

by Roger Dorn on Feb 7, 2008 2:43 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Re: Browns to Battle Super Bowl Champions
Monday Night games can't be flexed.

I wouldn't completely rule out a Monday Night game. Back when the Browns made the postseason, I believe we had the Rams on Monday Night a season or two later.

Overall though, yes, it'll be dominated by large-market teams. It's painful to us at times, but then again, I can't say that I'd rather watch a Cardinals/Seahawks matchup more than a Colts/Patriots game on any given week.

by Chris Pokorny on Feb 7, 2008 5:49 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Re: Browns to Battle Super Bowl Champions
One of the Pittsburgh games will be a primetime game ... probably at Heinz Field. That was our only primetime game 2 seasons ago and I think the year before as well.

I could see the Colts game being the other, with a good potential for a third from the Giants, Cowboys or Jaguars. With a real outside chance of the Bills game.

by talonk on Feb 8, 2008 10:39 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Re: Browns to Battle Super Bowl Champions
I have a feeling that we'll get a Thursday game against a team like the Eagles or Bills. Not sure why; just a hunch.

by Chris Pokorny on Feb 8, 2008 12:20 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Non-stop coverage of the team with the best fans in the NFL, the Cleveland Browns.

Community Guidelines
Send us a Scoop

Start posting about the Browns »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

Connect_with_facebook

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

4horsemen_small
Dear Mike Holmgren,
4horsemen_small
Want to know if Berry falls to #7? It depends on Mike Shanahan and the Redskins.
Byner_small
How Long Before Our Brownies Are in PlayOff Contention?
Biggamebob_small
Browns Organizational Love Has One Flaw
Small
4 Ways to Handle the Browns’ QB Situation
Awesomeness_small
Draft thread: Pre-Combine Predictions
Clemsontiger_small
If you had to choose....
Biggamebob_small
Contrarian Draft Proposal
Ssb-flag-nobucks_small
2010 Free Agency (QBs & RBs)
Fail-blue-screen_small
Troy Smith

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

Browns Links

Latest NFL Headlines from SB Nation

Turf Show Times
Random Ramsdom: 3/11/2010
Buc 'Em
Faded Car Doors: Why we support the Bucs through thick and thin.
Bolts From The Blue
Chargers by the (Jersey) Numbers: #56

Executive Editor

Dbn_small Chris Pokorny

Moderators

Pryor_small Buckeye Brad