Prime time not interested in Browns in 2017 NFL schedule

The NFL released its 2017 schedule on April 20, and when the Browns saw it, they learned what the league thinks of a team that won only one game the previous season.

The Browns, 1-15 in 2016, play no prime time games this season – not even the token Thursday night crumb the NFL tossed teams in the past. This is the first season the weekly NFL Network game will not feature every team at least once. All 16 Browns games are scheduled for Sundays.

“The schedule release is always an exciting day,” Browns head coach Hue Jackson said in a statement. “We’ve known our opponents, but to get the dates and for the schedule to be laid out in front of us really give us a lot to look forward to.

“Obviously, it’s something our entire organization looks forward to. I know our fans like it, too, because they kind of get to map out their fall.”

The Browns open the season with the Steelers on Sept. 10 at home and close the season on Dec. 31 in Pittsburgh.

This is the first time since 1963 the season starts and ends with a game against the Browns’ top rival. It is the seventh time in eight years the Browns and Steelers are meeting in the regular season finale.

“It’s great to open at home this year in front of our fans,” Jackson said. “The Steelers have what we want as the reigning AFC North champs, so this will be a great challenge and a good opportunity for us to measure ourselves to start the season. I know our fans will be really jacked up and behind us as always, and we greatly appreciate them for it.”

The Browns’ bye this year is Nov. 5, a week after playing the Vikings in at 9:30 a.m., Oct. 29, at Twickenham Stadium in London as a home game. The game will be televised on NFL Network.

Browns season ticket holders are not compelled to buy tickets for the London game as part of the normal 10-game package. But they will receive the option to buy tickets for the London game through a special sale.

More information is available at ClevelandBrowns.com or by calling 888-891-1999.

“The London game comes at a really good time, with the bye following the game, it’s great to have that at the mid-season point,” Jackson said. “It’s going to be good to coach against an old friend in Mike Zimmer, across the pond. No doubt that Zim will have his team ready to go and so will we, it should be a great experience for our team to represent the city of Cleveland internationally.”

The Browns play the NFC North and the AFC South in inter-division games.

Along with the “home” game against the Vikings, the Browns host Green bay on Dec. 14. They visit Detroit on Nov. 12 and Chicago on Dec. 24 to round out their NFC North schedule.

The first two games against AFC South opponents are on the road – at Indianapolis on Sept. 24 and at Houston on Oct. 15. The Browns host Oct. 22 and Jacksonville on Nov. 19.

All Browns games begin at 1 p.m. with the exception of the game in London and the road game against the Los Angeles Chargers (4:05 p.m.) on Dec. 3.