Browns on prime time two times in 2009 season

By TONY GROSSI

CLEVELAND — The NFL schedule-maker isn't giving up on the Browns despite their 4-12 tailspin in 2008.

The Browns received two prime-time games at home against division rivals. They will host the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night, Nov. 16, after their bye week and then host the Pittsburgh Steelers for a Thursday night special on Dec. 10.

The Browns also were given a home game for the season opener for the 11th straight time. They start the season Sept. 13 against the Minnesota Vikings.

After that, the Browns play eight of their next 13 on the road before winding down for their last two at home against warm-weather teams Oakland on Dec. 27 and Jacksonville on Jan. 3.

In a statement, Coach Eric Mangini said, "It will be exciting to open our regular season at home against the Minnesota Vikings, and also to have two of our three divisional home games on a national stage. I know our team is looking forward to seeing a stadium full of our fans dressed in brown and orange every week. They always make Cleveland Browns Stadium a difficult place for opponents to play."

The Browns are 1-9 in season openers at home since returning as an expansion team in 1999.

They thought they had corrected the home problems after a 7-1 home mark in 2007, but slumped to 1-7 in 2008. The lone win was a prime-time Monday night affair over the defending champion New York Giants.

The Browns played in prime time five times in 2008, winning two.

Other intriguing matchups on the schedule include:

UA week 2 road contest Sept. 20 at Denver, which is being rebuilt by Canton native Josh McDaniels, another limb of the Bill Belichick tree.

U A week 8 road game Nov. 1 at Chicago, now quarterbacked by former Bronco Jay Cutler.

U A week 12 road game Nov. 22 at Detroit, being rebuilt by Jim Schwartz, another Belichick limb.

U A week 15 road assignment Dec. 20 at Kansas City, being reconstructed by GM Scott Pioli, another Belichick limb.

The combined record of Browns opponents was 87-120-1 in 2008. Four of their opponents made the playoffs last year.

The team also firmed up dates and times of the exhibition schedule. The Browns play Saturday, Aug. 15, at 8 p.m. at Green Bay; Saturday, Aug. 22, at 7:30 p.m., against Detroit at home; Sat. Aug. 29, at 7:30 p.m., against Tennessee at home, and Thursday, Sept. 3, at 8 p.m., at Chicago.