As the NFL world counts down to Thursday’s official release of the 2026 schedule, all eyes are on Cleveland. The Browns have a new head coach, a revamped offense, and—most importantly—the league’s easiest strength of schedule. But can they turn that favorable slate into a winning record?

Let’s start with the numbers. FanDuel Sportsbook currently lists the Browns at +125 odds to win seven or more games in 2026, and +1600 to take the AFC North. After back-to-back disappointing seasons—three wins in 2024 and five in 2025—the franchise is desperate to return to the 11-win form they showed in 2023. The path to at least seven victories may be more achievable than it looks.

First, the changes. Cleveland hired Todd Monken as head coach, completely rebuilt the offensive line, and used early draft picks on two wide receivers. Defensively, the unit is largely intact—minus defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz—which should provide some stability. With the league’s softest schedule, the pieces are in place for a bounce-back year.

Now, let’s break down the matchups. At home, the Browns host the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and Las Vegas Raiders. On the road, they travel to face the Ravens, Bengals, Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, New York Giants, and New York Jets.

Where do the easy wins come from? Start with the Las Vegas Raiders. Even after selecting quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall, the Raiders were a mess last season—so much so that Cleveland blew them out with relative ease. That’s one win you can pencil in.

Then there’s the AFC North. No matter how rough the season gets, the Browns typically manage at least two wins within the division. They closed 2025 with victories over the Steelers and Bengals, and there’s no reason to expect less in 2026. That brings the count to three wins.

Cleveland also draws the New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, and New York Giants—three teams that finished with four or fewer wins in 2025 and sat at the bottom of their respective divisions. Of course, no game is a guaranteed victory, especially after the Browns stumbled against the Jets and Titans last year. But on paper, these are all winnable contests.

With a manageable schedule, a fresh coaching staff, and a retooled offense, the Browns have a legitimate shot at hitting that seven-win mark. Whether they can exceed expectations and challenge for the division title remains to be seen—but for the first time in two years, the optimism in Cleveland feels real.