The NFL officially released the full slate of games for the 2026 season on Thursday, with the season beginning on September 9 in Seattle and ending on February 14, 2027, with Super Bowl LXI in Los Angeles.
In between, the Cleveland Browns will face a 17-game schedule that includes:
- The opening game of the season is on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars on September 13.
- The home opener does not arrive until Week 3, when the Browns host the Carolina Panthers.
- The bye will be in Week 11.
- Only one primetime game, but it comes at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 4.
- A preponderance of 1 p.m. starts, with 15 games currently residing in the early window.
- A streak of four home games in five weeks, starting with Houston in Week 10 and concluding with Atlanta in Week 14.
- Games against six teams with new head coaches in Kevin Stefanski (Atlanta Falcons), John Harbaugh (New York Giants), Klink Kubiak (Las Vegas Raiders), Jesse Minter (Baltimore Ravens), Mike McCarthy (Pittsburgh Steelers), and Robert Salah (Tennessee Titans).
- The easiest schedule, at least based on the 2025 win-loss record of their opponents (.429).
- Being the only team in the AFC North Division without an international game.
Those are the highlights, so let’s get to the actual games the Browns will have to navigate if they hope to find their way back to the playoffs under first-time head coach Todd Monken.
Week 1, Sept. 13, 1 p.m. at Jacksonville – The Browns have won five of their last seven visits to Jacksonville, including the past two games. Deshaun Watson is 7-1 in his career versus the Jaguars. Most recent meeting: Cleveland won, 18-13, in Week 2 of the 2024 season.
Week 2, Sept. 20, 1 p.m. at Tampa Bay – After winning the first three meetings all-time in Tampa, the Browns have lost their last three road games to the Buccaneers. Most recent meeting: Cleveland won, 23-17, in Week 12 of the 2022 season.
Week 3, Sept. 27, 1 p.m. vs. Carolina – The Browns have not lost to the Panthers in Cleveland since 2002. Most recent meeting: Cleveland won, 26-24, in Week 1 of 2022.
Week 4, Oct. 1, 8:15 p.m. vs. Pittsburgh – Cleveland is 6-1 at home against the Steelers since 2019. Most recent meeting at home: Cleveland won, 13-6, in Week 17 of the 2025 season.
Week 5, Oct. 11, 1 p.m. at the New York Jets – Cleveland is just 1-4 in their last five road games against the Jets. Most recent meeting: Cleveland lost, 27-20, in Week 10 of the 2025 season.
Week 6, Oct. 18, 1 p.m. vs. Baltimore – the Browns have won 3 of their last 5 home games against the Ravens. Most recent meeting at home: Cleveland lost, 23-16, in Week 11 of the 2025 season.
Week 7, Oct. 25, 1 p.m. at Tennessee – Cleveland won on its most recent visit to Nashville, which came in 2020. Most recent meeting: Cleveland lost, 31-29, in Week 14 of the 2025 season.
Week 8, Nov. 1, 1 p.m. at Pittsburgh – The Browns have not won a regular-season road game in Pittsburgh since 2003, a stretch that covers eight full-time head coaches. Most recent meeting in Pittsburgh: Cleveland lost, 23-9, in Week 6 of the 2025 season.
Week 9, Nov. 8, 1 p.m. at New Orleans – The Browns have not defeated the Saints as the road team since 2010. Most recent meeting: Cleveland lost, 35-14, in Week 11 of the 2024 season.
Week 10, Nov. 15, 1 p.m. vs. Houston – Cleveland has a two-game home winning streak against the Texans. This could be quarterback Deshaun Watson’s final chance to get revenge against his original team in a Cleveland uniform. Most recent meeting: Cleveland lost, 45-14, in the Wild Card Round of the 2023 playoffs.
Week 11, Nov. 22, Bye Week
Week 12, Nov. 29, 1 p.m. vs. Las Vegas – The Browns had a three-game home winning streak against the Raiders from 2003 to 2014, the only games they have won in Cleveland against the Raiders all-time. Most recent meeting: Cleveland won, 24-10, in Week 12 of the 2025 season.
Week 13, Dec. 6, 1 p.m. vs. Cincinnati – the Browns won five consecutive home games against the Bengals from 2018 to 2023. Most recent meeting at home: Cleveland lost, 17-16, in Week 1 of the 2025 season.
Week 14, Dec. 13, 1 p.m. vs. Atlanta –The last time the Browns played a game against a former coach, they defeated Romeo Crennel and the Kansas City Chiefs in 2012. Most recent meeting: Cleveland lost, 23-20, in Week 4 of the 2022 season.
Week 15, Dec. 20, 1 p.m. at the New York Giants – The Browns played their first road game against the Giants in 1950. They won their most recent road game against the Giants in 2020. Most recent meeting: Cleveland lost, 21-15, in Week 3 of the 2024 season.
Week 16, Dec. 27, 1 p.m. at Baltimore – Head coach Todd Monken makes his return to Baltimore, where he spent the past three seasons as offensive coordinator. The Browns have won just six games all-time in Baltimore. Most recent meeting in Baltimore: Cleveland lost, 41-17, in Week 2 of the 2025 season.
Week 17, Jan. 3, 1 p.m. vs. Indianapolis – Cleveland has only beaten the Colts once in Cleveland since returning to the NFL in 1999. Most recent meeting: Cleveland won, 39-38, in Week 7 of the 2023 season.
Week 18, Jan. 10, TBD at Cincinnati – The Browns broke a three-game road losing streak to the Bengals with a season-finale win last season. Most recent meeting in Cincinnati: Cleveland won, 20-18, in Week 17 of 2025.
What do you think, Browns fans? Excited, neutral about the schedule? Any games that stand out? Let everyone know in the comments.
