With the NFL releasing their schedule for the 2022 season, everyone is going over which teams got a primetime game.
With the Cleveland Browns, the NFL feels they still need to prove themselves.
While 13 of the 32 NFL teams have five primetime games, the Browns get only two.
The reason they even got those two games was because they are division rivalry games.
They might have gotten none if it wasn’t for that.
If the Browns want more primetime games, they need to win games.
Browns Can Get More Primetime Games If They Are In The Playoff Hunt
One thing the NFL uses during the regular season is a flex schedule.
This allows for the NFL to change games based on their playoff implications.
NFL flex schedule for next Sunday pic.twitter.com/m4qrTJBDOX
— James Smyth (@JamesSmyth621) December 24, 2018
So Browns fans could see more games during primetime if they are in the playoff race.
However, it requires them to win games while remaining in the playoff race.
They weren’t able to win primetime games last season, losing three of the four they had in 2021.
With a poor record under the bright lights of primetime, the NFL found other teams to play during those times.
Until this new Browns team can prove they are winners, they won’t get those nationally televised games.
Browns Need To Be Exciting As Well To Get More Primetime Games
NFL fans love exciting games filled with nail-biting moments.
However, the Browns aren’t that type of team.
Rarely have they done anything exciting.
The last exciting thing Cleveland provided NFL fans was their 2020 playoff run.
It was the first playoff appearance for Cleveland since the 2002 NFL season.
Their first game was against their rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
It saw them walk away with a commanding road victory against Pittsburgh.
Throwback to the @Browns playoff win against the Steelers.
It was their first Playoff victory in 26 years.
Enjoy all the Browns' touchdowns.
🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈 pic.twitter.com/sBA3KVADCY— NFL UK (@NFLUK) May 28, 2021
However, the Browns haven’t given NFL fans any other standout moments since then.
It’s because Cleveland isn’t a flashy team.
They don’t have miracle catches by their players.
There’s no exciting plays with broken tackles leading to touchdowns.
The Browns just don’t entertain football fans, meaning they won’t get that primetime spot.
However, at least they aren’t the only team in the NFL that has no primetime games.
At Least The Browns Are Getting More Primetime Coverage Than The Detroit Lions
While the Browns’ playoff seasons are few and far between, at least they have great rivalry games.
These games are what got them the two primetime slots for 2022.
While Cleveland only gets two games, the Detroit Lions have zero.
It shows that at least the NFL has some faith in Cleveland.
Even Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers beating the Lions can’t push them into primetime.
However, Cleveland still has work to do in 2022 to convince the NFL they are a primetime-worthy team.
While missing out on primetime isn’t fun, at least Cleveland gets some primetime games for 2022.
They also have a chance for more with Deshaun Watson as their new quarterback.
That’s a silver lining that Lions fans will never have.
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