The Browns’ 2017 regular-season schedule that was released Thursday night features games against the rival – and defending AFC North champion — Pittsburgh Steelers in both the opener (at home on Sept. 10) and finale (Dec. 31), and the club’s first international regular-season game ever on Oct. 29 against the Minnesota Vikings in London, followed by a bye placed exactly at the midway point of the season (Nov. 5).
Interesting, to say the least.
We’ll deal with all that in about 4½ months when those games begin.
But between now and then, there is only one thing to keep in mind about the schedule. And it is that the Browns must – they absolutely, positively must – get off to a fast start if they have any hope at all of improving markedly – or even just marginally — over last season’s franchise-worst 1-15 finish.
The Browns are beaten down by all of the struggles – nine straight losing seasons overall, also a franchise mark for futility – and thus have forgotten how to win. Winning is a learned behavior that they are still in the training-wheel stage of learning.
If they begin slowly again, then all those old doubts will creep in immediately and they will likely bury themselves even before the trees drop their leaves.
But if they can experience some success early, then it will instill in them – and all their young, developing players – some much-needed confidence and just may get on a little bit of a roll, such as it is. They need confidence in the worst way, almost as much as they need a franchise quarterback. The winning, the quarterback and the confidence are all indelibly linked. One does not happen – consistently, at least – without the others.
In 1978, the Browns, in coming off a 6-8 finish and three losing records in four years, got off to a 3-0 start behind a young passer by the name of Brian Sipe – perhaps you’ve heard of him – and good things began to happen.
In 1985, the Browns, in coming off a 5-11 finish in a season in which they had been picked to win the AFC Central, got off a 4-2 start, due in some ways to a rookie passer named Bernie Kosar – perhaps you’ve heard of him, too – and good things began to happen again.
Exactly a week from the time the schedule was released – next Thursdaynight — the 2017 NFL Draft will begin and the Browns, seemingly with more high picks than there are stars in the skies, will set out once again to find that quarterback.
If they happen upon him, then someday soon, fast starts, winning and confidence will be part of the team once more.
And if they don’t, then the 2017 schedule – and every schedule every year until they do – will become events more to dread and endure than to eagerly await and enjoy.
