The 2016 season was the Cleveland Browns' 64th in the National Football League (NFL), their 68th overall and their first under head coach Hue Jackson and de facto general manager Sashi Brown. The Browns failed to improve upon their 3âÂÂ13 record from their previous season, finishing 1âÂÂ15, the worst record in franchise history until it was broken by next season's infamous 0âÂÂ16 record. The Browns failed to make the playoffs for a franchise-record 14th straight season and ninth straight season with a losing record.
Despite the team's performance, offensive tackle Joe Thomas became the fifth player in league history to be selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first 10 seasons.
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 brought over 20 years of experience in the Major League Baseball front offices, but had 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.
On January 3, the Browns fired head coach Mike Pettine. In two seasons with the Browns, Pettine had a record of 10âÂÂ22, but went just 4âÂÂ19 after a 6âÂÂ3 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 8âÂÂ8 record.
Notes
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.
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
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 29âÂÂ10 and with the loss, the Browns started the season 0âÂÂ1. This would be their 12th straight regular season opening loss.
The Browns scored on their first three drives and led 20âÂÂ2 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 25âÂÂ20. 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 0âÂÂ2.
Cody Kessler made his debut as the Browns' starting quarterback. The Browns led 13âÂÂ10 at halftime. However, the Dolphins scored two consecutive touchdowns to go up 24âÂÂ13 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 0âÂÂ3.
The Browns came to Washington for a matchup against the Redskins. The Browns had a 20âÂÂ17 lead going into the fourth quarter but the offense once again stalled with a Josh Norman interception and two touchdowns by the Redskins' offense would win the game for the Redskins.
With the loss, the Browns started their season 0âÂÂ4 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.
With Tom Brady back from his four-game suspension due to his alleged role in Deflategate, the Browns hosted the Patriots. The game turned out to be a disaster for the Browns as Brady and the Pats destroyed the Browns defense.
Their second loss to New England since 2013 dropped the Browns to 0âÂÂ5.
With the loss, the Browns dropped to 0âÂÂ6 and became the first NFL team to start 0âÂÂ6 since the Oakland Raiders in 2014. It was the Browns' first 0âÂÂ6 start since the 1999 season.
With their fourth straight loss to the Bengals, the Browns started 0âÂÂ7 for the first time since 1999.
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 20âÂÂ7 at halftime. However, they gave up 24 unanswered points to fall behind 31âÂÂ20 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 31âÂÂ28, but a comeback could not be secured as the Jets secured the onside kick, ran out the clock, and dropped the Browns to 0âÂÂ8. It was only their second 0âÂÂ8 start in franchise history and the first 0âÂÂ8 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 0âÂÂ8 since the 2014 Raiders.
Attempting to stop their 11-game losing streak, the Cleveland Browns hosted the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys routed the Browns 35âÂÂ10.
With the loss, the Browns dropped to 0âÂÂ9 for the first time since 1975 and clinched their ninth consecutive losing season. They also lost their 12th consecutive game, setting a new franchise record for most consecutive losses.
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 7âÂÂ6 at halftime, but the Ravens dominated the second half, outscoring them 22âÂÂ0 and winning 28âÂÂ7. The seven points scored by the Browns represented their fewest points scored in a game this season.
With the loss, the Browns fell to 0âÂÂ10. It was their worst start in franchise history. They are also the first team to begin the season 0âÂÂ10 since the 2014 Oakland Raiders. The Browns' overall NFL record fell to 461âÂÂ461âÂÂ10, marking the first time in franchise history they did not have a record above .500.
The Browns hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers, who were coming off a loss against the Cowboys. The Steelers defeated the Browns 24âÂÂ9, dropping the Browns to 0âÂÂ11. 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 0âÂÂ11 since the 2011 Indianapolis Colts.
The Browns took on the Giants who were on a five-game winning streak and were coming off their 22âÂÂ16 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.
With the loss, the Browns went into their bye week at 0âÂÂ12. They would be the first team to start with such a record since the 2011 Colts.
Coming off their bye week, the Browns hosted the Bengals in a rematch of Week 7. The Bengals jumped out to a 20âÂÂ0 halftime lead and never looked back, handing Cleveland a 23âÂÂ10 loss.
With the loss, Cleveland became the eighth team since 1960 to start a season 0âÂÂ13, 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.
The Browns headed to Buffalo to try to collect their first win of the season, but the Bills routed the Browns 33âÂÂ13. With the loss, the Browns fell to 0âÂÂ14 (0-4 against the AFC East) 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 0âÂÂ14, joining the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1980 New Orleans Saints, and the 2008 Detroit Lions. The Browns also tied their franchise record for total losses in a single season. The Browns also became the first team since the 2013 Houston Texans to have 14 straight losses in a single season.
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 and Lou Groza, who each have 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 was the longest active streak in the NFL.
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 Brownsâ 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.
With the win, the Browns improved to 1âÂÂ14 and ended their 17-game losing streak while finishing the season 1âÂÂ7 at home. This was the first and only time this season that the Browns allowed fewer than 23 points in a single game. After this game, the Browns endured a 19-game winless streak and did not win again until Week 3 of the 2018 season.
The Browns entered this game looking to win consecutive games for the first time since they won three in a row during Weeks 8 to 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 27âÂÂ24 in an overtime affair. With the loss, the Browns finished the season at 1âÂÂ15 (0-8 on the road), their worst record in franchise history (until the next season). The Browns also became the tenth team in NFL history, but the first since the 2009 Rams, to finish 1âÂÂ15. 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 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 13th consecutive season. The Browns finished with the worst record in the NFL and secured the #1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. This marked the beginning of a 17-game losing streak continuing through the 2017 season and ending with a tie in Week 1 of the 2018 season.