Browns receive four prime-time appearances – and possibly a fifth – over the final seven games

Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.

The Browns were spared from playing in London and from playing on Christmas Day.

But, boy, the networks love them, after all.

The Browns’ 2024 schedule, revealed on NFL Network Wednesday night, features four prime-time games – two on Thursday night, one on Sunday night and one on Monday night -- all in the final seven weeks.

This prime-time mini-series begins Thursday, November 21, at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers (on Amazon Prime).

The following week, the Browns play on Monday night, December 2, in Denver against the Broncos (ESPN).

They have another prime-time back-to-backer in December.

On Thursday, December 19, they play in Cincinnati against the Bengals (Amazon Prime).

After the mini bye week, they host the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, December 29 (NBC). It’s the first Sunday Night Football game the Browns have hosted since 2019.

The season concludes in Baltimore on Week 18, with the date and time to be determined. It could be on Saturday, January 4, or Sunday, January 5 -- also possibly in prime time.

“Those Thursday night games are really fun for us,” coach Kevin Stefanski said in a club statement. “You're the only show in town. It's a short week. And for us to get two division opponents and those Thursday nights is a great opportunity for us. We love hosting prime time games. So, that Pittsburgh game there in November will be really exciting for our crowd. And then going down a short drive down to Cincinnati for that Thursday night game in later December.”

“Monday nights are really fun for our players and our fans,” Stefanski added. “You're the standalone game. Everybody's waiting patiently for that one on Monday night. So, having been out there to Denver, we know what type of challenge that is versus a really well coached team and a really good football team. So, we're looking forward to a great opportunity there on Monday Night Football.”

Four prime-time games – and possibly a fifth – make this an unusual schedule and a challenging one.

Here are some quirks:

* The Browns conclude their three-game preseason in Seattle on Saturday, August 24. That’s the longest possible haul for a preseason-ender. They were hoping for a short trip to Buffalo. Their other two preseason games are at home, Saturday, August 10 against Green Bay, and Saturday, August 17 against Minnesota.

* The previously announced season-opener at home against the Dallas Cowboys on September 28 is one of two 4:25 p.m. kickoffs on Sunday. The other is in Las Vegas against the Raiders on Sunday, September 29. 

“I love that we're starting at home like we did last year,” Stefanski said. “Our home crowd was absolutely electric, and I would expect it to be no different for the Cowboys coming to town.”

* The Browns avoided much-speculated trips to Sao Paulo, Brazil (against the Eagles), and London (Jaguars). Instead, they play the Eagles in Philadelphia in Week 6 on Sunday, October 13. and play the Jaguars in Jacksonville in Week 2 on Sunday, September 15.

* They have a rare three games in a row on the road Weeks 4-6 – at Las Vegas, Washington and Philadelphia.

* Which is followed by three home games in a row Weeks 7-9 – vs. Cincinnati, Baltimore and the Los Angeles Chargers. All are Sunday 1 p.m. kickoffs.

* The bye week comes in Week 10 – smack dab in the middle of the 18-week (17-game) season.

* December will be a brutal five-game stretch – at Denver (MNF), at Pittsburgh, home vs. two-time Super Bowl champion Kansas City, at Cincinnati (TNF), and home vs. Miami (SNF).

* And then the finale in Baltimore, the first season-ender there since 2018. That game could be scheduled for Saturday afternoon, Saturday night, Sunday afternoon or Sunday night. The exact date and time won’t be announced until the conclusion of Week 17.