Browns, Steelers schedules released

Associated Press

The Cleveland Browns will open the 2012 season at home against Philadelphia on Sept. 9.

It’s the first time they’ve faced the Eagles in the season opener since 1969. It’s also the 13th time in 14 years the Browns have opened their season in Cleveland.

After hosting the Eagles, the Browns will travel to Cincinnati (Sept. 16) before returning home to play Buffalo (Sept. 23). The following week, the Browns will play their only prime-time game, a Thursday night matchup at Baltimore.

The Browns will play the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants on Oct. 7 in New Jersey.

Following their Nov. 11 bye week, the Browns visit Dallas (Nov. 18) before hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers (Nov. 25). Cleveland will play its regular-season finale at Pittsburgh on Dec. 30.

Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers open their 80th season with a rematch. Kind of.

The Steelers will travel to Denver to start the 2012 regular season on Sept. 9 in a rematch of the Broncos’ 29-23 overtime win in the wild card round of last year’s playoffs.

Instead of facing Tim Tebow, however, Pittsburgh will take on a rebuilt Denver team featuring Peyton Manning in the first of five primetime games featuring the Steelers next fall.

Pittsburgh won’t have to wait long to get a shot at Tebow. The Steelers host the New York Jets in the home opener on Sept. 16.

The Steelers play at home just twice in the season’s first seven weeks.

The team’s bye week on Sept. 30 and a home date with cross-state rival Philadelphia break up road trips to Oakland (Sept. 23), Tennessee (Oct. 11) and Cincinnati (Oct. 21) loom, with the Titans game coming on a Thursday night.

The Steelers will host Washington on Oct. 28 then travel to face the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants on Nov. 4.