Browns Announce 2018 Preseason Schedule Featuring Nationally-Televised Game Against Philadelphia

The Cleveland Browns announced their 2018 preseason schedule on Wednesday, which annually features two home games and two road games. Cleveland has received a national game in primetime this go-around, as they’ve drawn the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles for Week 3 of the precursor to the real deal. That game will take place on Thursday, August 23rd at 8pm, airing on FOX.

Check out the rest of the preseason schedule for the squad:

Week 1 (August 9-13): at New York Giants

Week 2 (August 16-20): BUFFALO

Week 3 (August 23): PHILADELPHIA (Thursday FOX national game, 8 p.m.)

Week 4 (August 30-September 1): at Detroit

While the Week 3 contest’s time is determined due to it being a nationally-televised broadcast, the remaining three games have a timetable of when they could occur. The times are still being figured out as well.

On the television broadcast this year will be Jay Crawford and former Browns quarterback Tim Couch. Crawford last worked for ESPN and has over thirty years spent as a broadcaster. He’s a die-hard Cleveland fan, making his role as the lead-man for the call an easy call for the Browns. He’s joined by the first overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft, as Couch is his color commentator.

“I’m really excited for the opportunity to be a part of what I consider to be a real metamorphosis,” Crawford said when asked about the chance to be the television play-by-play commentator for the Browns. “I see this organization moving in the right direction. It’s a really fun time to be involved. I know as Browns fans we get excited every April and every preseason, but for the first time in a long time, this feels palpable. This feels real. I’m thrilled I’ll get an opportunity to connect with a fan base that is so hungry for a winner.”

As for Couch, it’s time to rekindle his love for the city.

“I’m super excited about it,” said Couch. “I haven’t been back in Cleveland since I left there. It’s going to be nice to get back up there and be around the organization again.

“The fans are tremendous. They’re some of the best fans in pro football. They show up and support the team no matter what. Last year was a really tough year for them, but I think they’ve made some great moves in the offseason. They’re on the right track now and they’ve got some really talented players in there and have some great draft picks coming up. The opportunity is there to get better really fast.”

Crawford and Couch will call the three games not aired on FOX for the Browns.

The radio broadcast will stay with longtime lead man Jim Donovan and Doug Dieken, who will enter their twentieth season together as the radio team for Cleveland.