With the 2025 NFL schedule officially here, it's time to evaluate some of the matchups the Browns will have this upcoming season.
Cleveland will open and close the season against a division rival in the Bengals, play in their first international game in London since 2017 and host two sets of back-to-back home games in the latter half of the season. They also will face some top quarterback talent with both QB Lamar Jackson and QB Josh Allen coming to Huntington Bank Field.
So, let's take a look at the Browns' top five matchups throughout the 2025 season. Single-game tickets are on sale for all Browns' home games in the 2025 season.
Week 1 | vs. Bengals | 1 p.m.
Opening the 2025 season at home against a division rival? What better way to kick off the season and hit the ground running with facing division opponents.
It's the ninth time in club history that the Browns open the season against the Bengals. Cleveland owns a 4-3 record against Cincinnati in season openers, including a 24-3 victory the last time the two teams met to begin the 2023 season. The Browns are also 3-2 in home openers under head coach Kevin Stefanski.
The Bengals' offseason moves centered around bringing their own players back with contract extensions and deals for key players in TE Mike Gesicki, WR Ja'Marr Chase and WR Tee Higgins. They also addressed needs in free agency and the draft, filling holes on the offensive and defensive lines, as well as linebacker. This will be the first look at how those additions improve the Bengals on both sides of the ball.
Week 5 | vs. Vikings in London | 9:30 a.m.
Not only are the Browns facing a Vikings team that ended the 2024 season with a 14-3 record and made the playoffs, but they are also doing so in a more neutral site in London on a larger stage. They will play at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – the only purpose-built NFL stadium outside of the U.S. The Browns have not played in an international game since 2017, when they also faced the Vikings. At that time, Cleveland lost to Minnesota 33-16.
An interesting wrinkle is that this matchup will be the second consecutive international game for Minnesota, as it faces the Steelers in Week 4 in Dublin on Sept. 28.
The Browns' 2025 regular-season schedule has been released. Check out how the season unfolds with this photo gallery
Week 8 | at Patriots | 1 p.m.
The Patriots went through a number of changes in the offseason, not only with bringing in Mike Vrabel as the new head coach – who spent time with the Browns during the 2024 season as a coaching and personnel consultant – but also in free agency and the draft. They signed 14 players and selected another 11 in the draft. They added key veteran pieces around QB Drake Maye and then drafted two key offensive players in OT Will Campbell and RB TreVeyon Henderson.
It's also a reunion of former teammates, as this will be the first meeting between Henderson and RB Quinshon Judkins – who played at Ohio State together.
With the Browns' bye week in Week 9, this matchup will close out the first half of the season. They will have eight games to evaluate where the team stands and to prepare for the second half the season that features five home games.
Week 16 | vs. Bills | 1 p.m.
The Browns will host Allen and the Bills at Huntington Bank Field in Week 16. Buffalo finished with a 13-4 record in 2024 and advanced all the way to the AFC Championship. Their playoff run ended with a loss to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship.
The Bills also had a busy offseason in which they cemented key players with contract extensions, including Allen, WR Khalik Shakir, DE Greg Rousseau and LB Terrel Bernar. They signed DE Joey Bosa to pair him with Rousseau and added depth on the defensive side of the ball in the draft – especially on the defensive line.
A late-season matchup in December against two teams that are used to playing in weather in the latter half of the season will make for a great atmosphere at Huntington Bank Field.
Week 18 | at Bengals | TBD
Ending the season the way it began with a matchup against the Bengals is unique, as it's only the second time it has happened in Browns' history. The last time this happened was in 2023, when the teams split the games.
This time, the Browns will travel to Cincinnati to face the Bengals for the second matchup of the season. It's another opportunity for Cleveland to face a divisional opponent and affect the rankings in the AFC North, and close out their season on a high note.
