See where Cleveland Browns' strength of schedule ranks after 2024 NFL schedule release
The Cleveland Browns have known the teams they were going to play in 2024 for months. They merely found out the order of they'll play those teams on Wednesday.
What's been obvious since the opponents were set in January was that the Browns were going to, potentially, face a rugged run of opponents in 2024. The "potentially" is thrown in there because there's nothing that can prove to be less relevant in the parity-driven NFL than schedule strength in mid-May.
Teams go up and down in success on an annual basis. A playoff team one year could be picking in the top five of the draft the next.
Still, it's a fun exercise to take a look at how this year's opponents fared last year. For the Browns, their collection of opponents fared as well as anyone in 2023.
What was the Cleveland Browns' 2024 opponents' winning percentage in 2023?
The Browns' opponents were a combined 158-131 last season. That comes out to a .547 winning percentage, which ranks No. 1 among all teams in the league.
Where do the rest of the AFC North teams' schedules rank in 2023 winning percentages?
Playing in the best division in the NFL, one with three playoff teams and all four teams finishing with winning records, means the next year's strength of schedule should be robust. That's definitely the case for Cleveland's AFC North rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens are second to the Browns in opponents' 2023 winning percentage, at .536 (155-134). The Steelers, meanwhile, are third at .533 (154-135).
The Bengals have the "easiest" schedule by 2023 winning percentage at .502 (145-144), which is tied for 16th. Cincinnati also finished fourth in the AFC North last year.
What were the 2023 records of the Cleveland Browns' 2024 opponents?
Baltimore Ravens 13-4, AFC North champions
Dallas Cowboys 12-5, NFC East champions
Philadelphia Eagles 11-6, NFC wild card team
Kansas City Chiefs 11-6, AFC West champions; won Super Bowl
Miami Dolphins 11-6, AFC wild card team
Pittsburgh Steelers 10-7, AFC wild card team
Cincinnati Bengals 9-8
Jacksonville Jaguars 9-8
New Orleans Saints 9-8
Denver Broncos 8-9
Las Vegas Raiders 8-9
New York Giants 6-11
Los Angeles Chargers 5-12
Washington Commanders 4-13
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Where does Browns' strength of schedule rank among all 32 NFL teams?
