The 2021 Cleveland Browns schedule: Times, dates and results for the Browns
In 2021 can the Browns top a season in which important franchise boxes were checked off?
Winning record? Check. The Browns went 11-5.
Playoff appearance? Check. And it included a win over the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.
There are plenty of boxes left for the Browns in 2021. Winning the division for the first time since 1989 is one. That was the last time the team made the AFC Championship Game so that's another box.
How about winning the first game of the season for the first time since 2004? That will be challenging given the Browns start on the road against presumptive Super Bowl favorite Kansas City.
But coming into 2021, the Browns have retooled parts of the roster in an effort to not only try and beat the Chiefs in Week 1, but in the playoffs.
The offseason for the Browns was dedicated to rebuilding the defense around star defensive end Myles Garrett and cornerback Denzel Ward. In free agency general manager Andrew Berry brought in defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, cornerback Troy Hill, safety John Johnson III and linebacker Anthony Walker Jr.
That wasn't all. Berry used his first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft on cornerback Greg Newsome II and linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was taken in the second round.
The offense and coaching staff is basically the same as last year. Head coach Kevin Stefanski is back for his second season in Cleveland, and quarterback Baker Mayfield will again lead the offense.
Mayfield is coming off a season of 26 touchdowns and only eight interceptions, bouncing back from a lackluster 2019 season. Many will be watching the on-field rapport between Mayfield and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
The schedule for the Browns features three primetime games, including divisional games against Baltimore and Pittsburgh late in the season.
2021 Cleveland Browns schedule and results
Sept. 12: Chiefs 33, Browns 29
Sept. 19: Browns 31, Texans 21
Sept. 26: Browns 26, Bears 6
Oct. 3: Browns 14, Vikings 7
Oct. 10: Chargers 47, Browns 42
Oct. 17: Cardinals 37, Browns 14
Oct. 21: Browns 17, Broncos 14
Oct. 31:Steelers 15, Browns 10
Nov. 7: at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m., CBS
Nov. 14: at New England Patriots, 1 p.m., CBS
Nov. 21: vs. Detroit Lions, 1 p.m. Fox
Nov. 28: at Baltimore Ravens, 8:20 p.m., NBC
Dec. 12: vs. Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m., CBS
TBD: vs. Las Vegas Raiders, TBD, TBD
Dec. 25: at Green Bay Packers, 4:30 p.m., Fox, NFL Network, Amazon
Jan. 3: at Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:15 p.m., ESPN
Jan. 9: vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m., CBS
All games will be broadcast on the radio on ESPN 850 (WKNR), 92.3 The Fan (WKRK) and 98.5 (WNCX)