Big concern about little games

By STEVE KING

As the NFL unveiled its 2021 regular-season schedule on Wednesday night, everybody immediately went to the big-ticket games – the pizzazz games, the marquee games, the national TV, prime-time games, the grab-your-attention games.

That what people do. The gIitz and gleam catches their attention, and  holds it.

And so it was, too, with the Browns schedule.

The opener against the Kansas City Chiefs. Ohhh!

The home opener against the Houston Texans. Ahhh!

The Thursday Nighter against the Denver Broncos. Wow!!!

The visit by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Yeah!!!

The Monday Night Football rematch in Heinz Field. Cool!!!

The Sunday Nighter against the Baltimore Ravens. Love it!!!

The rematch in Baltimore two weeks later, following a bye. Now, that’s what I’m talking about!!!

And in Green Bay on Christmas Day. Yes, sir!!!

That’s all well and good, for those games will indeed mean a lot.

But when you turn off the hype machine and crank down the lights, you’re left with the rest of ’em – the mundane games that, at first glance, are nothing more than opening acts – the B-listers, if you will. But those mean just as much, if not more.

We know the Browns will be stoked to play the big games, but will they also be stoked to play the little ones? Those count as one in the standings as well.

Can they get up for the home-and-away games against the Cincinnati Bengals, and the home games against the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears?

Those little games can trip you up and put a real dent into your season if you’re not careful and fail to take care of business. Good teams make sure they show up to them as well. They make sure they’re ready to go.

If the Browns are a good team – if they’re as good as we believe them to be – then they will have their focus. And if they’re not, then they won’t.

It’s really that simple.