Ever since the NFL revealed the team schedules last week, everyone has been excited about what is in store for Cleveland Browns players (and fans) in 2021.
Now that the NFL has moved to a 17 game regular season (as compared to 16 in recent years), some teams including the Browns are the beneficiaries of that.
That means the Browns have 9 home games this season.
Presumably there will be fans in the stands so FirstEnergy Stadium’s Dawg Pound will be rocking for these games.
All of the home games are interesting for different reasons, but here are the 3 most exciting home games for the Browns in 2021.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers, Week 8
To begin with, the Browns host their heated AFC North rival on Halloween.
What is more electrifying than that?
Also, this will mark the halfway point of the season, and many believe the Browns and Steelers could be going in different directions with the Browns rising and the Steelers falling.
The Browns beat the Steelers at home in Week 17 last year to gain a playoff spot.
Many of the Steelers players rested that week which made the following week’s wildcard playoff win at Pittsburgh even more meaningful.
Expect the fans to jeer JuJu Smith-Schuster who pioneered the “Browns is the Browns” movement that lifted the team last year.
The video evidence. “They’re a good team, but…" #Browns https://t.co/578KevTDyb pic.twitter.com/E1NPe9EKjl
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) January 8, 2021
My boy @bakermayfield said it best! “The Browns is the Browns”‼️ pic.twitter.com/Am4HhijPQb
— Armani Taylor-prioleau (Alex) (@Tall_inc) January 11, 2021
A crowded house on Halloween with an axe to grind with their divisional rival is a scheduling win on the part of the NFL.
2. Baltimore Ravens, Week 14
The Browns host the Ravens in Week 14 after a Week 12 game in Baltimore and a Week 13 bye.
They should be extremely prepared for what the Ravens are bringing to FirstEnergy Stadium.
No one has forgotten the Week 1 drubbing the Browns took at the hands of the Ravens in Baltimore to open the 2020 season or the crazy Lamar Jackson reemergence from the locker room at FirstEnergy to lead his team to victory late last season.
When @Lj_era8 returned from the locker room and did THIS! 😲
Can't wait for more @Browns vs @Ravens next year.
📺: #NFLScheduleRelease — Wednesday, May 12 at 8pm ET on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/GxzmZybC6v
— NFL (@NFL) May 6, 2021
The Ravens have had the Browns number in recent years.
To say the rivalry has been erratic is an understatement especially when it is noted that Freddie Kitchens was the last Browns coach to beat the Ravens.
The fans will be ready to roar and give their team the necessary homefield advantage to win this game.
3. Las Vegas Raiders, Week 15
Last year’s game against the Raiders at FirstEnergy was in November.
The wind in Cleveland is wild 💨
📺 #LVvsCLE on FOX pic.twitter.com/6gzV5pG3FU
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) November 1, 2020
The weather was wild, and the Raiders pulled off the upset that very few expected.
Even when the Raiders appear to be down and out, they get up for big games against hyped opponents.
Look what they did to the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead last year.
They are loose cannons capable of anything, and with this game falling in late December, weather could be even crazier this year.
The Browns need to avenge last year’s loss as the regular season winds down.
Fans will be on their feet yelling and screaming to help the home team score the win.
One thing is for sure, the fans are ready to cheer on the Browns at all of the home games for what is hoped to be the most thrilling season yet.
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