Five Primetime Games Highlight Schedule

The NFL loves offense and teams with wins... belief the Cleveland Browns will have both has given the team five opportunities to shine in primetime this season, including three appearances on Monday Night Football.

The NFL manages to keep a few secrets this time of year. Teams try every gambit they know to fool opponents about their draft interests, and manage to keep schedules a secret until they can be announced at a time of their choosing.

After missing their first deadline last week, the NFL today announced the 2008 schedule, which includes five primetime games for the Cleveland Browns. This is perhaps the clearest indication of new-found respect for the franchise, and that the league and TV networks believe that the team will be both competitive and fun to watch.

Here is the team's press release:

CLEVELAND BROWNS ANNOUNCE 2008 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE

A franchise high five national primetime games highlight 2008 regular season schedule

The Cleveland Browns announced their 2008 regular season schedule today. Along with home and road games against AFC North Division opponents Baltimore, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, the Browns will host Dallas, Denver, Indianapolis, Houston and the New York Giants and travel to Buffalo, Jacksonville, Philadelphia, Tennessee and Washington.

The Browns also announced the 2008 preseason schedule. The Browns will host the New York Jets and Chicago Bears, while traveling to face the New York Giants on Monday Night Football and the Detroit Lions. WKYC TV-3 is the Browns preseason television partner, and will broadcast three preseason games in high definition, while the fourth will be seen nationally on ESPN. All preseason and regular season games will be broadcast on the Browns Radio Network (WMMS 100.7 FM).

Pre-Season

Date	Opponent	Time	TV NETWORK
Thur., Aug. 7	New York Jets	7:30 p.m.	(WKYC TV-3)
Mon., Aug. 18	at New York Giants	8:00 p.m.	(ESPN)
Sat., Aug. 23	at Detroit Lions	4:00 p.m.	(WKYC TV-3)
Thur., Aug. 28	Chicago Bears	7:30 p.m.	(WKYC TV-3)

Regular Season

Date	Opponent	Time	TV
Sun., Sept. 7	Dallas Cowboys	4:15 p.m.	(FOX)
Sun., Sept. 14	Pittsburgh Steelers	8:15 p.m.	(NBC)
Sun., Sept. 21	at Baltimore Ravens	4:15 p.m.	(CBS)
Sun., Sept. 28	at Cincinnati Bengals	1:00 p.m.	(CBS)
Sun., Oct. 5	Bye Week
Mon., Oct. 13	New York Giants	8:30 p.m.	(ESPN)
Sun., Oct. 19	at Washington Redskins	4:15 p.m.	(CBS)
Sun., Oct. 26	at Jacksonville Jaguars	4:05 p.m.	(CBS)
Sun., Nov. 2	Baltimore Ravens	1:00 p.m.	(CBS)
Thur., Nov. 6	Denver Broncos	8:15 p.m.	(NFL Network)
Mon., Nov. 17	at Buffalo Bills	8:30 p.m.	(ESPN)
Sun., Nov. 23	Houston Texans	1:00 p.m.	(CBS) *
Sun., Nov. 30	Indianapolis Colts	1:00 p.m.	(CBS) *
Sun., Dec. 7	at Tennessee Titans	1:00 p.m.	(CBS) *
Mon., Dec. 15	at Philadelphia Eagles	8:30 p.m.	(ESPN)
Sun., Dec. 21	Cincinnati Bengals	1:00 p.m.	(CBS) *
Sun., Dec. 28	at Pittsburgh Steelers	1:00 p.m.	(CBS) *

* Beginning Week 11, the NFL will move to a ‘flexible’ schedule, as games are subject to the possible change from a Sunday afternoon kickoff to a Sunday night prime time viewing.

HOME GAMES. All times Eastern.

All games are broadcast on the Cleveland Browns Radio Network (WMMS 100.7 FM).

2008 Schedule Notes:

• The Browns have five nationally televised regular season games during the 2008 campaign, including three Monday Night (ESPN) contests, one Sunday Night (NBC) game and one Thursday Night (NFL Network) contest. Previously the most national primetime games that featured the Browns in a single-season were three during both the 1988 and 1989 seasons.

• The Browns open the regular season at home vs. the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 4:15 p.m. Cleveland has opened the regular season at home every year since returning to the NFL in 1999. This is the Cowboys first visit to Cleveland since Sept. 1, 1991, which was also the regular season opener.

• The Browns will host the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants on Monday Night Football on Oct. 13 at 8:30 p.m. Browns fans will have the opportunity to see the Browns play the last three defending Super Bowl Champions at Cleveland Browns Stadium--N.Y. Giants (2007) on Monday, Oct. 13, Indianapolis (2006) on Sunday, Nov. 30 at 1:00 p.m. and Pittsburgh (2005) on Sunday, Sept. 14 at 8:15 p.m.

• Seven of the Browns’ 13 opponents qualified for the playoffs in 2007. Pittsburgh (AFC North), Indianapolis (AFC South) and Dallas (NFC East) won their respective divisions, while the N.Y. Giants (NFC Wild Card), Washington (NFC Wild Card), Jacksonville (AFC Wild Card) and Tennessee (AFC Wild Card) also earned postseason berths.

• The combined 2007 record of the Browns’ 2008 opponents is 137-119 (.535), including each division opponent twice. Six opponents won ten or more games in 2007: Indianapolis (13-3); Jacksonville (11-5); Pittsburgh (10-6); Dallas (10-6), N.Y. Giants (10-6) and Tennessee (10-6). Also, nine of the 13 opponents had a record of .500 or better in 2007.

• Of the 13 teams the Browns play in 2008, nine have starting quarterbacks who were former first round picks – Steve McNair or Kyle Boller (Baltimore), Carson Palmer (Cincinnati), Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh), Peyton Manning (Indianapolis), Eli Manning (N.Y. Giants), Vince Young (Tennessee), Donovan McNabb (Philadelphia), Jay Cutler (Denver) and Jason Campbell (Washington).

• The Browns run defense will face nine running backs that topped the 1,000-yard barrier last season—Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia (1,333); Willie Parker, Pittsburgh (1,316); Clinton Portis, Washington (1,262); Willis McGahee, Baltimore (1,207); Fred Taylor, Jacksonville (1,202); Marshawn Lynch, Buffalo (1,115); LenDale White, Tennessee (1,110); Joseph Addai, Indianapolis (1,072) and Brandon Jacobs, N.Y. Giants (1,009).

• The Browns pass defense will face nine receivers that topped the 1,000-yard mark last season – Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis (1,510), Chad Johnson, Cincinnati (1,440); Terrell Owens, Dallas (1,355); Brandon Marshall, Denver (1,325), Jason Witten, Dallas (1,145); T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cincinnati (1,143); Kevin Curtis, Philadelphia (1,110); Derrick Mason, Baltimore (1,087) and Plaxico Burress, N.Y. Giants (1,025); and seven quarterbacks that topped the 3,000-yard passing mark last season – Tony Romo, Dallas (4,211); Carson Palmer, Cincinnati (4,131); Peyton Manning, Indianapolis (4,040); Jay Cutler, Denver (3,497); Eli Manning, N.Y. Giants (3,336); Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia (3,324) and Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh (3,154).

• The Browns defense will face several of the top offensive units from last season – Dallas ranked third in the NFL offensively and feature QB Tony Romo (4,211 yards passing) with WR Terrell Owens (1,355 yards receiving) and TE Jason Witten (1,145 yards receiving); Indianapolis ranked fifth with QB Peyton Manning (4,040 yards passing), WR Reggie Wayne (1,510 yards receiving) and RB Joseph Addai (1,072 yards rushing); Philadelphia ranked sixth with QB Donovan McNabb (3,324 yards passing), RB Brian Westbrook (1,333 yards rushing) and WR Kevin Curtis (1,110 yards receiving); Jacksonville ranked seventh with RB Fred Taylor (1,202 yards rushing), while Cincinnati ranked tenth in the NFL and featured QB Carson Palmer (4,131 yards passing), and the receiving duo of WR Chad Johnson (1,440 yards receiving) and WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cincinnati (1,143 receiving yards).

• The Browns offense will also face eight of the NFL’s top ten defensive units from the 2007 campaign. The Pittsburgh Steelers (266.4 yards per game) were the best defensive unit in the NFL, while Indianapolis ranked third and Tennessee finished fifth. Additional opponents that ranked in the top ten defensive units last season include Baltimore (sixth), N.Y. Giants (seventh), Washington (eighth), Dallas (ninth) and Philadelphia (tenth).

• The Browns will make a regular season visit to Philadelphia for the first time since Nov. 13, 1994 and a 26-7 road victory. The Browns will also make a regular season visit to Washington for the first time since Oct. 13, 1991, when the Redskins prevailed in a 42-17 affair.