Can the Browns be ready for prime time this time?

Despite a 4-12 tailspin in 2008 that featured five nationally telecast night games, the Browns received two more prime-time assignments this season, rebooted under new management.

They will host division rivals Baltimore and Pittsburgh in prime-time games at home - Monday, Nov. 16, against the Ravens, and Thursday, Dec. 10, against the Super Bowl champion Steelers.

Further, the Browns received two more schedule perks. For the 11th straight year they open the season at home, Sept. 13, against Minnesota. They conclude the season at home against warm-weather foes Oakland on Dec. 27 and Jacksonville on Jan. 3.

The price for those favorable matchups apparently was squeezing their eight road games over 13 games, beginning Week 2 at Denver. The stretch includes four road games over five weeks and five over seven.

In a statement, coach Eric Mangini said, "It will be exciting to open our regular season at home against the Minnesota Vikings, and also to have two of our three divisional home games played on a national stage.

"I know our team is looking forward to seeing a stadium full of our fans dressed in brown and orange every week."

"They always make Cleveland Browns Stadium a difficult place for opponents to play."

The Browns are 1-9 in season openers at home since returning as an expansion team in 1999.

They thought they overcame their home-game jitters when they went 7-1 at home in 2007. But the record was reversed to 1-7 last season, the lone victory coming against the Giants in a Monday night affair.

The Browns were 2-3 in prime-time games last year after being tabbed a team on the rise. Their other win was at Buffalo.

The team also announced dates and times of their exhibition schedule.

They play at Green Bay on Saturday, Aug. 15, at 8 p.m.; home against Detroit on Saturday, Aug. 22, at 7:30 p.m.; home against Tennessee on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 7:30 p.m.; and at Chicago on Thursday, Sept. 3, at 8 p.m.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: tgrossi@plaind.com, 216-999-4670