CLEVELAND, Ohio — Well, now we know. The Browns will get a chance once again to open their season with a highly talented opponent as they travel to Kansas City to take on the defending AFC Champions in Week 1.
The Browns will face the Chiefs in a prime-time slot as they kick off at 4:25 p.m. Sept. 12 at Arrowhead Stadium, the site of Cleveland’s elimination four months ago.
NFL teams have known their 2021 opponents since the end of last season, but the league’s annual schedule day makes a spectacle of announcing the order, kickoff times, and broadcast network for each of its 272 games, which includes a 17th regular-season contest for each team for the first time in NFL history.
The regular season will run until Jan. 9, and Super Bowl LVI will be played on Feb. 13, the latest in a calendar year that the NFL has ever finished its season.
The opener between the Browns and Chiefs was announced Wednesday morning on CBS, which will televise the Week 1 matchup. The rest of the Browns’ schedule will be unveiled at 8 p.m. Wednesday, along with the complete NFL schedule and coverage
The Browns went 11-5 last season to make the playoffs for the first time in 18 years. Then they captured their first postseason win in 26 years with a heroic 48-37 shorthanded win at Pittsburgh in the Wildcard round.
The Chiefs defeated the Browns 22-17 in the AFC Divisional Round last January on their way to a second straight Super Bowl appearance. Patrick Mahomes left that game with an injury before returning in the AFC Championship Game a week later. Including that postseason meeting, the Browns have lost their last four matchups with the Chiefs.
The Chiefs have won six straight and seven of eight regular-season openers under Andy Reid while the Browns have failed to win a season opener since the 2004 season when they beat the Baltimore Ravens 20-3.
The Chiefs have already opened as -5.5 favorites according to William Hill Sportsbook.
Other Schedule Notes
The Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers will open the NFL season on Thursday, Sept. 9 against the Dallas Cowboys.
The Chicago Bears will visit the Los Angeles Rams for the opening Sunday Night Football game, and the Baltimore Ravens will make a trip to the Las Vegas Raiders for the initial Monday Night Football contest.
While the Browns’ full schedule will be released later tonight, here are the teams the Browns will play in the 2021 regular season after Kansas City:
Pittsburgh Steelers (Home/Away)
Baltimore Ravens (Home/Away)
Cincinnati Bengals (Home/Away)
Chicago Bears (Home)
Denver Broncos (Home)
Houston Texans (Home)
Las Vegas Raiders (Home)
Detroit Lions (Home)
Arizona Cardinals (Home)
Los Angeles Chargers (Away)
Green Bay Packers (Away)
New England Patriots (Away)
Minnesota Vikings (Away)
<p>There have been more schedule leaks happening NOW over at <a href="https://247sports.com/nfl/cleveland-browns/board/the-watercooler-105323/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Watercooler</a> and premier access to more leaks in <a href="https://247sports.com/nfl/cleveland-browns/board/rumor-central-106133/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rumor Central</a> for OBR Subscribers ONLY. </p> <p>Also, make sure to check out our Schedule Release Show that kicks off at 7:30p over on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQV5v1ftalBIMwpdC2Srnsw?view_as=subscriber" target="_blank" rel="noopener">theOBR YouTube Channel</a>!</p> <img src="https://s3media.247sports.com/Uploads/Assets/112/386/10386112.png?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320" data-src="https://s3media.247sports.com/Uploads/Assets/112/386/10386112.png?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320" />(Photo: Courtesy of @WreckThisLeague)<p>
