Written by Rich Swerbinsky

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It's almost as if the schedule makers are testing Romeo Crennel. The Browns 2007 schedule was announced today, and three of the teams first four games are at home, versus Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Baltimore. The full schedule and analysis is inside. It's almost as if the schedule makers are testing Romeo Crennel.

The Browns announced their 2007 schedule today, and will host each of their division rivals in the seasons first month.  The Browns will open, at home, against the arch-rival Pittsburgh Steelers.  The game will be the NFL head coaching debut of Mike Tomlin, hired by the Inbred this off-season to replace the "retired" Bill Cowher.  The Browns have opened at home in each of the nine seasons since they returned to the league in 1999.  Sadly, the Browns are 1-7 in the eight previous home openers.

The team stays at home for week two, as the Cincinnati Bengals head north for a week two tilt with the Browns.  After a trip out west to play in The Black Hole versus the Raiders in week three, the Browns return home in week four to host the hated Baltimore Ravens.  That's right ... three of the Browns first four games are at home, versus their division rivals.

Browns coach Romeo Crennel had to laugh when seeing the September slate.  The big man has taken considerable heat for the team's 1-11 record against division foes on his watch.  This record of course includes a 0-6 mark last year versus the division, lowlighted by a 30-0 home loss to the 8-8 Bengals on Thanksgiving weekend.

It's common knowledge amongst Browns fans that Crennel is clearly on thin ice with the team.  Most people feel that the team must show marked improvement by the halfway point in the season if Romeo intends on still being employed come the holidays.  Now ... the heat has officially been turned up.  The Browns not only get a chance to play each of their division foes in the season's first month, but they get a chance to play them all at home.  The time for excuses is over, and anything short of a 2-2 record in September will likely spell doom for coach Crennel.

Making the September slate even more crucial for the team is the fact that four of their next five games are on the road, and in some tough locations.  In week five, the team plays at New England ... a game the Browns will be heavy underdogs in.  They then host Miami in week six before getting their bye in week seven.  Week eight they play at St. Louis.  Week nine, the team comes back home to host the Seahawks.  And weeks ten and eleven are road games at Pittsburgh and at Baltimore.

The schedule seemingly lightens up over the final six weeks.  The Browns host Houston, then play at Arizona and in New York against the Jets.  They then host Buffalo in week 15, play at Cincinnati in week 16, and host the San Francisco 49ers in the seasons final week.  This will be the 49ers first visit to Cleveland since the Browns memorable Monday night win over the 'Niners in 1993.

The Browns do not have any Sunday or Monday night games scheduled.  However, starting in week 10, the NFL goes to a "flex schedule".  Any game can potentially be moved to Sunday night (and a prime time audience) in the interest of showing a game with playoff implications in that slot each week.

Below is the Browns entire 2007 regular season schedule ...

Sunday, Sept. 9 - Pittsburgh Steelers - 1:00 PM (CBS)

Sunday, Sept. 16 - Cincinnati Bengals - 1:00 PM (CBS)

Sunday, Sept. 23 - at Oakland Raiders - 4:05 PM (CBS)

Sunday, Sept. 30 - Baltimore Ravens - 1:00 PM (CBS)

Sunday, Oct. 7 - at New England Patriots - 1:00 PM (CBS)

Sunday, Oct. 14 - Miami Dolphins - 1:00 PM (CBS)

Sunday, Oct. 21 - Bye Week

Sunday, Oct. 28 - at St. Louis Rams - 1:00 PM (CBS)

Sunday, Nov. 4 - Seattle Seahawks - 4:05 PM (FOX)

Sunday, Nov. 11 - at Pittsburgh Steelers - 1:00 PM (CBS)

Sunday, Nov. 18 - at Baltimore Ravens - 1:00 PM (CBS)

Sunday, Nov. 25 - Houston Texans - 1:00 PM (CBS)

Sunday, Dec. 2 - at Arizona Cardinals - 4:05 PM (CBS)

Sunday, Dec. 9 - at New York Jets - 4:15 PM (CBS)

Sunday, Dec. 16 - Buffalo Bills - 1:00 PM (CBS)

Sunday, Dec 23 - at Cincinnati Bengals - 1:00 PM (CBS)

Sunday, Dec. 30 - San Francisco 49ers - 1:00 PM (FOX)