Don't laugh. The Cleveland Browns may end up being the surprise team of the 2007 season. And if you think this is just hometown cheerleading talk, I predicted that the team would go 3-13 last season. I was wrong. The Browns finished 4-12.

With the recent history of the franchise, the Browns will need a little luck for the team to pull off a playoff caliber season. Things do seem to be going there way, and it will not take too long for the outcome of the season to be apparent.

I am on record as being a Charlie Frye basher. Things change a player who is on the hot seat fighting for his life and a big paycheck. While Frye will likely get replaced by mid-season, I expect him to play above what we saw the previous two seasons. The young quarterback is more experienced and has a rebuilt offensive line that will provide much more time. Add in the fact that Brady Quinn is there waiting in the wings, the quarterback position looks like it may be solved. With three solid passing options in Kellen Winslow Jr, Braylon Edwards, and Cleveland area native veteran Joe Jurevicius the passing game looks like an NFL caliber attack.

The Browns retooled their running attack as well. And this is probably where the fortunes will lie with the team. Jamal Lewis has looked like a shadow of his former self the past few seasons. That is the bad news. The good news is that he is only 28 years old and working on a year contract that he insisted on. That means he is looking for a big free agent contract next year. There is nothing that motivates a player in any professional sports league than a big contract. If Lewis has any life in the legs that once gained over 2,000 yards in a season the Browns may have an offense that is a force to be reckoned with. If he falls flat it will be a long season on the North Coast as their isn't a backup running back that can carry the load on a game to game basis on the roster.

With a Romeo Crennel coached team you never really have to worry about the defense. You can count on the defense always have a good game time scheme and if the unit isn't on the field too much due to lack of offense they will perform on a week to week basis. Linebacker Kamerion Wimbley will be the leader of the defense for years to come and has the chance to be a disruptive force to any offense in the league. The secondary is strengthened by Eric Wright who would have been an easy first round pick if he wasn't saddled with a troubled past.

Crennel knows that if this Browns team doesn't do something this season his days a NFL head coach will likely be over. 7 wins are probably the magic number to keep his job. The Browns have a chance to get out of the gate early with games against the Steelers, Bengals, and Ravens in the first four weeks at home. The Browns visit the Oakland Raiders in week 2, and if the team can get of the gates at 3-1 the team may catch lightning in a bottle and Browns fever will be all over Cleveland. If the Browns go 1-3 in those games Crennel is as good as gone and Brady Quinn will be getting a lot of work gearing up for the 2008 season. All things considered, Browns fans don't have much to lose this season and I wouldn't be surprised to Crennel guide the team to a 9-7 season.

Here is the 2007 Regular Season Schedule:

2007 Regular Season
Date
Opponent

TV

Time
September 9 PITTSBURGH STEELERS
CBS

1 p.m.
September 16 CINCINNATI BENGALS
CBS

1 p.m.
September 23 at Oakland Raiders
CBS

4:05 p.m.
September 30 BALTIMORE RAVENS
CBS

1 p.m.
October 7 at New England Patriots
CBS

1 p.m.
October 14 MIAMI DOLPHINS
CBS

1 p.m.
BYE WEEK

October 28 at St. Louis Rams
CBS

1 p.m.
November 4 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
FOX

4:05 p.m.
November 11 at Pittsburgh Steelers
CBS

1 p.m.
November 18 at Baltimore Ravens
CBS

1 p.m.
November 25 HOUSTON TEXANS
CBS

1 p.m.
December 2 at Arizona Cardinals
CBS

4:05 p.m.
December 9 at New York Jets
CBS

4:15 p.m.
December 16 BUFFALO BILLS
CBS

1 p.m.
December 23 at Cincinnati Bengals
CBS

1 p.m.
December 30 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
FOX

1 p.m.

Home games in CAPS.