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New England Patriots’ most likely 2019 primetime games

By Patrick Morgan

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 20: James White #28 of the New England Patriots runs with the ball against Kendall Fuller #23 of the Kansas City Chiefs in the second half during the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 20, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 20: James White #28 of the New England Patriots runs with the ball against Kendall Fuller #23 of the Kansas City Chiefs in the second half during the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 20, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 09: Chris Hogan #15 of the New England Patriots makes a 43-yard reception to set up a touchdown in the second quarter of the game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 9, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 09: Chris Hogan #15 of the New England Patriots makes a 43-yard reception to set up a touchdown in the second quarter of the game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 9, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

2. Cleveland Browns (HOME)

The Cleveland Browns are probably the most talked-about team in the NFL this offseason, and for good reason.

After drafting exciting young Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield No. 1 last spring, the team went on a magical run and just barely missed out on the playoffs. Normally a 7-8-1 record wouldn’t inspire much confidence in an NFL fanbase, but for a team that went 0-16 in 2017, last season’s record represented a high-water mark for the Brownies since the turn of the millennium.

Mayfield should be even better in Year 2, especially now that he’ll have a chance to build off his limited starting experience from last year and will enter OTAs, training camp, and the preseason as the unquestioned starter and face of the franchise. Joining him is an exciting mix of new players, including Kareem Hunt, Olivier Vernon, and Odell Beckham Jr.

OBJ is without a doubt the shiniest of all the Browns’ new toys this spring. He’s a generational talent that instantly elevates this franchise to contending status within their division – if not within the conference as a whole – provided he can tone down some of the drama and off-the-field issues that have dogged him since he came into the NFL. If Beckham focuses more on football and less on the theatrics, he could team up with former college buddy Jarvis Landry to form one of the most prolific wide receiver tandems in the league next season.

A season or two ago, New England/Cleveland wouldn’t be anywhere near candidacy for primetime television on the NFL schedule. Now – after the injections of Mayfield and OBJ – this game is generating serious consideration as a contender not just for primetime, but for Sunday Night Football in the first week of the season.

Many fans and analysts think the NFL could pit the Browns and Patriots against one another to start things off on NBC come September 8, especially now that the league has announced Bears/Packers as the inaugural game of the 2019 season on Thursday, September 5. We know for sure that the Patriots will begin their title defense three days later on SNF, and it would make sense for them to square off against the Browns… or if not against Cleveland, then perhaps against this team instead:

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