Cleveland Browns announce 2024 schedule (5.15.24)
The Browns will play in four total prime time games and host the defending Super Bowl champions
By Kelsey Russo, ClevelandBrowns.com Staff Writer
BEREA, Ohio — The Browns are set to host two prime time matchups, play three consecutive road games followed by three consecutive home games and host the defending Super Bowl champions all during the 2024 NFL season.
The NFL announced the complete schedule for the 2024 regular season, and the Browns kick the season off with a home matchup against the Cowboys on Sept. 8 at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Week 1. Kickoff is slated for 4:25 p.m. on FOX.
“I love that we’re starting at home like we did last year,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “Our home crowd was absolutely electric, and I would expect it to be no different for the Cowboys coming to town. They’re a great team. Obviously won their division last season. I think Coach (Mike) McCarthy does an outstanding job. So, we’ll have a great challenge coming out of the gates.”
The Browns will hit the road in Week 2 as they travel to Jacksonville to face the Jaguars on Sept. 15. The game will air on CBS with a 1 p.m. kickoff. They will return home for Week 3 as they host the Giants on Sept. 22 before they begin a three-game road stretch.
Cleveland will play three consecutive road games for the first time since 2011. They will travel to Las Vegas and face the Raiders in Week 4 on Sept. 29. The game will air on CBS at 4:25 p.m. Their next stop will be in Washington in Week 5 to take on the Commanders on Oct. 6, with kickoff slated for 1 p.m. on FOX. The last leg of the road stretch stops in Philadelphia, as the Browns will take on the Eagles on Oct. 13 for Week 6.
The Browns will then return to Cleveland for three consecutive home games at Cleveland Browns Stadium, beginning with two divisional matchups in Week 7 against the Bengals and Week 8 against the Ravens. Since the Browns hired Stefanski in 2020, the team has produced a 24-10 (.706) record at Cleveland Browns Stadium, while not recording a losing record at home in any season. The Browns finished 8-1 at home in 2023, a team record for wins at home.
Cleveland will close out the home stretch hosting the Chargers in Week 9 on Nov. 3, with kickoff slated for 1 p.m. on CBS. The Browns then head into their bye week in Week 10.
“That’s quite the homestand following three really good road opponents,” Stefanski said. “So, it’ll certainly be different for our guys, but something that we’re looking forward to.”
With divisional games starting Week 7, about halfway through the season, the Browns will have a solid base of tape on their divisional rivals heading into each matchup, and a chance to start strong in their divisional record.
“Those division games are always so important,” Stefanski said. “You always immediately when the schedule comes out find where they are on there. We’ve had years where it was all division early. Now, it’s a little bit later when you’re getting into the division games, starting in later October. So that’s a unique part of this as well. But you definitely want to find those division games in the calendar immediately.”
Following the bye week, the Browns head to New Orleans to face an NFC South opponent in Week 11 on Nov. 17 for a 1 p.m. kickoff. The Browns last played the Saints in 2022.
The Browns then head into two of their four total prime time games this season, beginning in Week 12. Cleveland will host a division rival in the Steelers on Thursday Night Football on Nov. 21 at 8:15 p.m. The game will air on Prime Video. The Browns have won their last eight home games on Thursday night, including two wins against the Steelers during that span. The Browns are 9-2 all-time at home on Thursday night.
The Browns have two total Thursday night games this season. The team has won their last six games on Thursday night and own an 11-8 all-time record on Thursday. Their second Thursday night game will come in Week 16 when the Browns travel to Cincinnati to face the Bengals on Dec. 19 for another divisional matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. on Prime Video.
“Those Thursday night games are really fun for us,” Stefanski said. “You’re the only show in town. It’s a short week. And for us to get two division opponents and those Thursday nights is a great opportunity for us. We love hosting prime time games. So, that Pittsburgh game there in November will be really exciting for our crowd. And then going down a short drive down to Cincinnati for that Thursday night game in later December.”
Their third prime time game will come on the road when the Browns travel to Denver to face the Broncos in Week 13 on Monday Night Football on Dec. 2. Kickoff is slated for 8:15 p.m. on ESPN. It’s the second consecutive year that the Browns have faced the Broncos on the road, after Cleveland faced Denver in Week 12 in 2023.
“Monday nights are really fun for our players and our fans,” Stefanski said. “You’re the standalone game. Everybody’s waiting patiently for that one on Monday night. So, having been out there to Denver, we know what type of challenge that is versus a really well coached team and a really good football team. So, we’re looking forward to a great opportunity there on Monday Night Football.”
Cleveland’s final prime time game will come in Week 17 when the Dolphins visit Cleveland Browns Stadium on Dec. 29. Kickoff is slated for 8:20 p.m. and the game will air on NBC. This will be the sixth Sunday night game the Browns have hosted, and the first since Sept. 22, 2019. The Browns and Dolphins last met on Sunday night on Dec. 26, 2004.
The Browns will also host the defending Super Bowl champions at Cleveland Browns Stadium for their Week 15 matchup on Dec. 15. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. and the game will air on CBS. They last faced the Chiefs in the regular season in 2021 and again in the 2020 AFC Divisional Playoff game.
“We’ve competed against them a few times out there in Arrowhead, so looking forward to getting them at our place,” Stefanski said. “Coach Reid does an outstanding job. They have great players. Defending champs. So, hosting them is a big deal.”
The Browns will close the regular season against the Ravens for the fourth time in team history and the first time since 2018. They will travel to Baltimore in Week 18 for one final divisional game.
“To end the season, as we really have division games every other week it seems like closing out the season, finishing down in Baltimore, we know how good a football team that is,” Stefanski said. “And the players and coaches, we understand that challenge that it presents, but excited for it.”
This season, “flexible scheduling” for Sunday Night Football may be used up to twice between Weeks 5-10, and in the NFL’s discretion during Weeks 11-17; for Monday Night Football in the NFL’s discretion in Weeks 12-17; and for Thursday Night Football it may be used up to twice between Weeks 13-17. During these Flex Scheduling Windows, the games initially scheduled for Sunday Night Football (on NBC), Monday Night Football (on ESPN or ABC), and Thursday Night Football (on Amazon Prime Video) are tentatively scheduled and subject to change. Only Sunday afternoon games (or those listed as TBD) are eligible to be moved to Sunday night, Monday night, or Thursday night, in which case the initially scheduled Sunday/Monday night game would be moved to Sunday afternoon. Sunday afternoon games may also be moved between 1:00 p.m. and 4:05 p.m. or 4:25 p.m. ET. As in prior seasons, for Week 18, the final weekend of the season, the scheduling of the Saturday, Sunday afternoon, and the Sunday night games is not assigned. In Week 18, two games will be played on Saturday (4:30 PM ET and 8:15 PM ET) with the remainder to be played on Sunday afternoon (1:00 PM ET and 4:25 PM ET) and one matchup to be played on Sunday night (8:20 PM ET). Specific dates, start times, and networks for Week 18 matchups will be determined and announced following the conclusion of Week 17. For more information about NFL Flexible Scheduling, please visit https://www.nfl.com/schedules/flexible-scheduling-procedures.