2016 Cleveland Browns season

Front office changes

On January 3, just hours after the Browns' final game of the 2015 season, the team fired general manager Ray Farmer, who had been the general manager the past two seasons. Team owner Jimmy Haslam also announced that the team's general counsel Sashi Brown would become the team's vice president of football operations.

On January 5, the Browns hired former New York Mets executive Paul DePodesta to be their chief strategy officer. DePodesta brings over 20 years of experience in the Major League Baseball front offices, but has never held an executive position in the NFL before this.

On March 4, the Browns announced the resignation of team president Alec Scheiner, effective March 31.

Coaching changes

On January 3, the Browns fired head coach Mike Pettine. In two seasons with the Browns, Pettine had a record of 10–22, but went just 4–19 after a 6–3 start to the 2014 season.

On January 13, the Browns hired former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson as head coach. Jackson was the Bengals' offensive coordinator for the past two seasons and was the head coach of the Oakland Raiders in 2011, in which they posted an 8–8 record.

2016 draft class

Notes

Josh Gordon's reinstatement and rehab

On April 1, wide receiver Josh Gordon applied for reinstatement following an indefinite suspension by the NFL due to repeated violations of the league's substance abuse policy, causing him to miss the entire 2015 season. On April 11, it was revealed that Gordon had failed another drug test, and on April 12, the league announced that Gordon's appeal had been denied. He was eligible to reapply on August 1.

On July 25, the NFL announced that Gordon would be reinstated on a conditional basis, and can stay with the team during a four-game ban to begin the season.

On September 29, Gordon announced his intention to step away from football and enter an in-patient rehab facility.

Schedule

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Week 1: at Philadelphia Eagles

The Browns opened their 2016 regular season with a road game against the Philadelphia Eagles and rookie quarterback Carson Wentz, whom the Browns had passed up in the 2016 draft. The Eagles won 29–10 and with the loss, the Browns started the season 0–1. This would be their 12th straight regular season opening loss.

Week 2: vs. Baltimore Ravens

The Browns scored on their first three drives and led 20–2 early in the first quarter. The 18 point lead at the end of the first quarter was the Browns' largest lead after the 1st quarter since 1960. However, the Browns' offense stalled the rest of the game. The Ravens would score the final 23 points of the game to win 25–20. The Browns had a chance to score a go ahead touchdown on a drive with less than a minute to play, but things went wrong after a controversial taunting penalty was called on Pryor following his catch at the Ravens' 10-yard line with under 30 seconds to play. McCown would throw an interception on the next play to seal the loss. With the loss, the Browns fell to 0–2.

Their regular season losing streak extended to 5.

Week 3: at Miami Dolphins

Cody Kessler made his debut as the Browns' starting quarterback. The Browns led 13–10 at halftime. However, the Dolphins scored two consecutive touchdowns to go up 24–13 early in the fourth quarter. The Browns, sparked by Pryor, rallied to tie the game. The Dolphins attempted a game winning drive in the final minute of regulation. However, Dolphins QB, Ryan Tannehill, fumbled the ball, and the Browns secured possession. The Browns had a chance to win it at the end of regulation. However, recently signed Browns kicker, Cody Parkey, missed the 46-yard field goal, sending the game to overtime. It was his third miss of the day. Both teams traded punts on their opening possession in overtime. On their second possession, the Dolphins, who got the ball around midfield to start the drive, reached the endzone after a few plays and won the game. With the loss, the Browns fell to 0–3 and remained in 4th place in the AFC North.

This would also be the team's sixth straight regular season loss dating back to last season.

Week 4: at Washington Redskins

The Browns came to Washington for a matchup against the Redskins. The Browns had a 20–17 lead going into the fourth quarter but the offense once again stalled with a Josh Norman pick and two touchdowns by the Redskins' offense would drop the Browns to 0–4 for the first time since 2012. Wins by the Jaguars, Bears, and Saints would make the Browns the only team in the NFL without a victory through Week 4.

The team's losing streak increased to 7.

Week 5: vs. New England Patriots

With Tom Brady back from his four-game suspension due to his alleged role in Deflategate, the Browns hosted the Patriots in a duel game. The game turned out to be a disaster for the Browns as Brady and the Pats stormed the Browns defense, dropping the Browns to 0–5. This was the second consecutive season a team started 0–5, after the 2015 Detroit Lions. This is the team's first start with such a record since 2012. It is also the team's eighth straight loss, dating back to the 2015 season.

Week 6: at Tennessee Titans

With the loss, the Browns dropped to 0–6 and became the first NFL team to start 0–6 since the Oakland Raiders in 2014. It was the Browns' first 0–6 start since the 1999 season. It is also the Browns' ninth consecutive loss dating back to Week 15 of last season.

Week 7: at Cincinnati Bengals

With their fourth straight loss to the Bengals, the Browns started 0–7 for the first time since 1999 and became the first NFL team to start 0–7 since the 2014 Raiders.

Their regular season losing streak now sits at 10.

Week 8: vs. New York Jets

Hoping to stop a 10-game losing streak dating back to last year, the Browns hosted the Jets in an AFC duel. The Browns led 20–7 at halftime. However, they gave up 24 unanswered points to fall behind 31–20 in the 4th quarter. They also committed two turnovers in the 4th quarter. The Browns scored late in the 4th quarter to cut the deficit to 31–28, but a comeback could not be secured as the Jets secured the onside kick, ran out the clock, and dropped the Browns to 0–8. It was only their second 0–8 start in franchise history and the first 0–8 start since the 1975 season. With the loss, the Browns failed to have a winning record for the ninth consecutive season. They also tied a franchise record (first set in between the 2011 and 2012 seasons) for most consecutive losses (11) in franchise history. They would also be the first team to start 0–8 since the 2014 Raiders.

Week 9: vs. Dallas Cowboys

Attempting to stop their 11-game losing streak, the Cleveland Browns hosted the Dallas Cowboys (led by rookies Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott who had impressive performances during the year). The Cowboys routed the Browns 35–10. With the loss, the Browns dropped to 0–9 for the first time since 1975 and clinched their ninth consecutive losing season. They also lost their 12th consecutive game dating back to the end of the previous season, setting a new franchise record for most consecutive losses.

Week 10: at Baltimore Ravens

Trying to halt their 12-game losing streak that had started back during the 2015 NFL season, the Browns traveled to Baltimore to play against the Baltimore Ravens who beat them in Week 2. This was the Browns' only prime time game this year. The Browns led 7–6 at halftime, but the Ravens dominated the second half, outscoring them 22–0 and winning 28–7. The seven points scored by the Browns represented their fewest points scored in a game this season. With the loss, the Browns fell to 0–10. It was their worst 10-game start in franchise history. They also lost their 13th consecutive game, extending their current franchise record for most consecutive losses. They are also the first team to begin the season 0–10 since the 2014 Oakland Raiders. On the following Sunday, the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs won their games, which mathematically eliminated the Browns from the NFL Wild Card race.

Week 11: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Browns hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers, who were coming off a loss against the Cowboys. The Steelers defeated the Browns 24–9, dropping the Browns to 0–11. With the loss, the Browns were mathematically eliminated from postseason contention for the 14th consecutive season. For the second consecutive season, they were the first NFL team to be mathematically eliminated from contention. The Browns have now gone 24 consecutive seasons without winning a division title, extending the longest active streak in the NFL. They also extended their current franchise record for most consecutive games lost to 14 games. The team is also the first team to start 0–11 since the 2011 Indianapolis Colts.

Week 12: vs. New York Giants

The Browns took on the Giants who were on a five-game winning streak and were coming off their 22–16 win over the Bears, but the Browns suffered their 12th straight loss this season due to three touchdown passes by Eli Manning to Odell Beckham Jr. and a fumble return by Jason Pierre-Paul for a touchdown. The Browns extended their current franchise record for most consecutive losses. They have now lost 15 straight games, with their last win coming in Week 14 of 2015 over San Francisco.

The team went into their bye week at 0–12. They would be the first team to start with such a record since the 2011 Colts.

Week 13: Bye week

The Browns had their bye week during Week 13. With the Bengals' victory against the Eagles, the Browns were guaranteed to finish the season in fourth place in the AFC North, the sixth consecutive season they had finished at the bottom of the division.

Week 14: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Coming off their bye week, the Browns hosted the Bengals in a rematch of Week 7. The Bengals jumped out to a 20–0 halftime lead and never looked back, handing Cleveland a 23–10 loss. It was the Browns' 16th consecutive defeat dating back to the 2015 season. With the loss, Cleveland became the eighth team since 1960 to start a season 0–13, and the first since the 2011 Indianapolis Colts. They became the first franchise to lose 16 in a row since the Oakland Raiders did it during the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

Week 15: at Buffalo Bills

The Browns headed to Buffalo to try to collect their first win of the season, but the Bills routed the Browns 33–13. With the loss, the Browns fell to 0–14 and became the first team to lose 17 consecutive regular season games since the St. Louis Rams in the 2008 and 2009 seasons. The Browns also became the fourth team to start a season 0–14, joining the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (went winless in a 14-game season), 1980 New Orleans Saints, and the 2008 Detroit Lions (went 0–16). The Browns also tied their franchise record for total losses in a single season. They also became the first team since the 2013 Houston Texans To Have 14 Straight Loses In A Season. Who won their first 2 games then lost 14 straight to be 2-14.

On December 21, OT Joe Thomas was voted to his 10th consecutive Pro Bowl. Thomas now holds the Browns record for most Pro Bowls, passing Pro Football Hall of Famers Jim Brown (nine) and Lou Groza (nine). Thomas joins Pro Football Hall of Famers Merlin Olsen (14), Mel Renfro (10), Barry Sanders (10) and Lawrence Taylor (10) as the only players in NFL history to make the Pro Bowl in each of their first 10 seasons. Thomas' streak of 10 consecutive Pro Bowls is the longest active streak in the NFL.

Week 16: vs. San Diego Chargers

In their final home game of the year, the Browns hosted the San Diego Chargers on Christmas Eve afternoon, looking to get their first win. The contest was competitive throughout the afternoon. The Chargers had a game-tying field goal attempt blocked by Jamie Meder with just under 4 minutes to go in the fourth quarter. After the Browns punted, the Chargers drove down the field and reached the Browns' 27-yard line in the final seconds. However, the Chargers had no timeouts remaining and had to rush the field goal unit out in the final seconds. Kicker Josh Lambo missed the potential game-tying field goal as time expired, allowing the Browns to pick up their first win of the season, ending a 17-game losing streak and improving to 1–14. The win also left the 2008 Detroit Lions as the only 0–16 team in NFL history. It was the first and only time this season that the Browns allowed fewer than 23 points in a single game.

Week 17: at Pittsburgh Steelers

The Browns entered this game looking to win consecutive games for the first time since they won 3 in a row during Weeks 8-10 of the 2014 season. The Steelers entered the game locked into the AFC's #3 seed and rested most of their starters. However, the Browns would still fall to the Steelers, losing 27–24 in an overtime affair. With the loss, the Browns finished the season with a 1–15 record, their worst record in franchise history. The Browns also became the 10th team in NFL history, and the first team since the 2009 Rams, to finish 1-15. They failed to win a division game for the first time since the 2011 season and extended their losing streak within the division to 11 games. The Browns also failed to win a road game in a season for only the second time in franchise history and the first time since the 1975 season. They also extended their road losing streak to 13 games and failed to win a road game against the Steelers for the thirteenth consecutive season. The Browns finished with the worst record in the NFL and secured the #1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.