The Kansas City Chiefs and the Cleveland Browns will face off at 4:25 p.m. ET Sept. 12 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium to kick off their 2021 seasons. Kansas City enjoyed a 14-2 record last season and almost won it all, losing the Super Bowl 31-9 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Likewise, Cleveland is coming off of an 11-5 season with hopes of advancing further than the second round of the playoffs, where they were eliminated by the Chiefs 22-17.
Watch Now: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cleveland Browns Live
A pair of offensive numbers to keep in mind before kickoff: Kansas City was the best in yards per game, finishing the 2020 season with 415.8 on average. Cleveland displayed some offensive firepower of their own as they ranked third in the NFL in rushing yards per game, closing the year with 148.4 on average.
Kansas City has the odds in their favor, so they’ll need to guard against complacency. A win is hardly a sure thing, especially this early in the season, so expect a good game.
-
When: Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET
-
Where: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium — Kansas City, Missouri
-
TV: CBS
How To Watch Chiefs vs Browns
2021’s NFL Kickoff Game is on CBS on Sunday, September 12th, 2021, at 10 a.m. ET. You can watch the game live with a streaming service that carries CBS like Hulu, FuboTV, YouTube TV, or DirecTV Stream. You can also stream the game live with the CBS streaming service Peacock. I describe all the ways to watch it below.
Hulu Live TV
You can watch Chiefs vs Browns through Hulu Live TV. They stream CBS live along with other local networks and other channels found on cable TV. According to the data we have, live CBS is available everywhere in the US. However, be sure to check Hulu’s Website for the latest channels in your area on this page: Hulu Live TV Channels by Zipcode.
Watch Now: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cleveland Browns Live
Hulu + Live TV is supported on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, iOS, Android, and more. You can read more about Hulu in our review of Hulu. There isn’t a month-to-month contract, so you can sign up to test the service without fear of a long-term commitment. You can sign up for Hulu Live TV using this link: Sign up for a Free-Trial to Hulu + Live TV.
fuboTV
FuboTV has rapidly increased the number of locations where they stream the live local CBS network. Currently, FuboTV carries CBS in all major TV markets in the US, so you can watch Chiefs play. Browns on NFL’s opening night.
The FuboTV app is available on major platforms, including Roku, Chromecast, Fire TV, Apple TV, and more.
YouTube TV
YouTube TV is another great option to watch the game as they offer CBS live. YouTubeTV offers live CBS with its streaming service in all markets in the US. Youtube TV supports Android, iOS, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chromecast, and more. The YouTube TV app isn’t available on Roku. However, users can use YouTube TV through the YouTube app on Roku devices.
DIRECTV Stream
DIRECTV Stream also streams CBS live, so you can watch Chiefs take on the Browns. CBS is available through all DIRECTV Stream plans. The most affordable is the “Entertainment” package for $69.99 a month, along with a ton of cable TV and other broadcast networks. CBS offers CBS in over half the markets in the US. You can check AT&T’s Website to allow you to make sure CBS is offered in your area. You can also see our review of DIRECTV Stream.
Peacock
Peacock will stream the NFL Opener and CBS Sunday Football every week live. To watch, you will need to subscribe to the “Peacock Premium” tier, which starts at $4.99 per month. You can stream the game on your TV or mobile device using the Peacock app. The streaming service supports Roku, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple T.V. 4K and Apple T.V. HD, Xbox One S and Xbox One X, Playstation 4, Android devices, Android TV, Chromecast, and Chromecast built-in, Xfinity Flex 4K and Amazon Fire TV or Fire Sticks.
Vidgo
Vidgo is a newer Streaming service that offers fairly competitive pricing over other Live streaming services. The only catch is they do not currently offer a DVR. Hopefully, that will change in the future.
Watch Now: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cleveland Browns Live
Right now, you can get NFL Network as a part of their Core Plan for $55 per month so you can watch the games branded as NFL Week 1 Game. This plan includes over 90 other channels. Vidgo doesn’t force you into a contract so that you can cancel any time. They do offer promotional pricing for new customers.
Vidgo is supported on available on Android, iOS, Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV. You can also stream the service on up to 3 devices at the same time. We have the full details in our guide to Vidgo’s live streaming service.
Sling TV
NFL Network is available on Sling TV, so you can watch games branded as NFL Week 1 Game. NFL Network is available as part of the SLING Blue service for $35 per month. Sling TV is available on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, and more, so it’s not a problem to enjoy it on a TV, tablet, computer, or other smart devices. Learn more information about Sling TV device compatibility in our detailed review of Sling TV. Sling TV regularly offers promotions for signing up.
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video will simulcast NFL Week 1 Game in weeks 5 through 15 (except for Thanksgiving day in week 12). The service costs $12.99 per month after a 30-day free trial, but you won’t be charged if you cancel before the trial expires. While a subscription to Amazon Prime provides access to NFL Week 1 Game, along with thousands of movies and TV shows through Prime video, there are also a ton of other benefits like free shipping on prime eligible purchases on Amazon. You can learn more about the other benefits of Prime in our review of Amazon Prime.
The 2021 NFL season kicks off in Tampa Bay on Thursday, Sept. 9 with Tom Brady and the Super Bowl champs hosting the Dallas Chiefs on CBS. It will be the first game in the Browns’ title defense Brady’s bid for a seventh Super Bowl ring. It will also mark the first game back for Chiefs quarterback Dak Prescott, who missed most of last season after suffering a gruesome ankle injury in early October.
Kickoff is set for Thursday, Sept. 9 at 8:20 p.m. ET (5:20 p.m. PT) on CBS. Here’s what you need to know to watch without cable.
Most NFL Week 1 Game games will be broadcast on Fox, NFL Network and Amazon Prime Video. The first Thursday night game between Chiefs and Bucs, however, is technically part of CBS’s Sunday Night Football schedule. The rest of the Thursday night games in September will be broadcast just on NFLN, with Fox’s and Prime Video’s coverage starting in October.
Check out the full NFL Week 1 Game schedule here and our recommendations for the best ways to watch NFL without cable throughout the season.
How to watch NFL Week 1 Game in the U.S.
NFL Week 1 Game will hop around between three networks throughout the 2021 season, as well as more than half of the games being available via streaming.
First, CBS, Fox and the NFL Network will carry NFL Week 1 Game broadcasts. CBS kicks things off with the opening night game featuring the Dallas Chiefs vs. Tampa Bay Browns; it will also broadcast the week 12 Thanksgiving edition of NFL Week 1 Game that has the Buffalo Browns play the New Orleans Saints.
The NFL Network will have exclusive broadcast coverage of the NFL Week 1 Game games during week 2, 3, 4 and 16. Every other week (not including the ones CBS has) will be simulcasted on Fox and the NFL Network.
Watch Now: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cleveland Browns Live
CBS and Fox are basic cable networks that have a local affiliate in essentially every TV market across the country. This makes them available through all traditional cable and satellite providers, barring any carriage disputes; check local listings to find out what channels CBS and Fox are for you.
The NFL Network, meanwhile, is a premium cable network, so subscribers will need to check what package the network is available on through their cable subscribers.
An alternative cable option is through vMVPD services like Fubo TV, Sling TV, Hulu with Live TV and YouTube TV. All of these services offer live streams of major networks, including Fox and CBS. In addition, they all carry the NFL Network as well, though it may depend on what package a consumer subscribes to.
Cord cutters will be able to watch NFL Week 1 Game action as well, with Amazon Prime Video offering live streams of 10 NFL Week 1 Game games (11 games in total) for the 2021 season, starting with the week 5 matchup between the Rams and Seahawks and continuing through week 15. All that is needed to watch these NFL Week 1 Game games via Prime Video is a subscription to Amazon Prime.
An FYI, starting in the 2022 NFL season, Amazon Prime Video will be taking over the rights to NFL Week 1 Game from Fox, sharing with the NFL Network, meaning all NFL Week 1 Game games will be available for streaming.
How to watch NFL Week 1 Game in the U.K.
Any NFL fans over in the U.K. will have the opportunity to watch NFL Week 1 Game games via Sky Sports’ NFL Channel. The home of live NFL action in the U.K., Sky Sports shows live Sunday, Monday and Thursday games. Should be noted though, that with the time difference between across the Atlantic, the 8:20 p.m. ET kickoffs for NFL Week 1 Game means a 1:20 a.m. kickoff for U.K. viewers.
If that’s too late (or early) for you, NFL Game Pass is an option. The international version of this subscription service offers live broadcasts of games as well as does the opportunity to watch the full broadcast on-demand or a condensed version of the broadcast that only features the plays.
How to watch NFL Week 1 Game from anywhere
If none of those options are available or work for you, don’t worry, there’s a way to watch NFL action from anywhere in the world —a virtual private network. A VPN is designed to route network traffic through a specific set of servers in a specific country, allowing viewers to watch content on an encrypted feed over a computer.
How to Watch NFL Games Without Cable?
You can access select NFL games without a cable subscription via streaming services like Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, FuboTV, YouTube TV, Paramount Plus, Amazon Prime Video, Peacock Premium, and NFL Sunday Ticket. You can also watch local NFL games with an HDTV antenna.
The 2021 NFL regular season begins on September 9. During the regular season, Sunday afternoon games with an NFC home team will air on Fox, and Sunday afternoon games with an AFC home team will air on CBS.
Meanwhile, Sunday Night Football airs on NBC, and Thursday Night Football will broadcast on NFL Network all season long. Select Thursday Night Football games will also be shown on Fox and streamed via Amazon Prime and Twitch. Finally, Monday Night Football is on ESPN.
Additionally, you can stream all your local in-market games on your mobile device for free using the Yahoo Sports app or the NFL app.
The Browns vs Chiefs live stream will be the first step Kansas City has to take to get last year’s Super Bowl loss out of their mouth, while the Browns hope to use this NFL live stream as their first brick in building off of last year’s success.
The Browns snapped an awful trend last season for themselves and their fans. Their playoff win over their AFC North rival Steelers marked their first playoffs win since the 1994 season. Now they will try to end another ugly streak; winning their first game. Cleveland is 0-15-1 in their last 16 season openers.
Their last week one win came when Jeff Garcia beat Kyle Boller’s Ravens in a 20-3 victory. Although Baker Mayfield and the Browns are coming off their most successful season in over 25 years the outlook is bleak when trying to get off their opening week schneid this season.
The Browns are facing the reigning AFC Champions for the last two years in the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes happens to be the biggest reason for K.C. ‘s success. He represents the next perennial MVP candidate like Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady or the now retired Drew Brees. Mahomes already has an MVP award in his back pocket and a Super Bowl ring. Now he only wants more.
The Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns are contenders in the AFC, with both teams having Super Bowl aspirations.
Kansas City is looking for its third consecutive Super Bowl appearance and fourth straight conference championship game appearance with Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. Coming off a brutal Super Bowl loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Chiefs revamped an offensive line that set a record for number of pressures allowed in the Super Bowl last year. Orlando Brown and Joe Thuney highlight an offensive line with five new starters tasked with protecting Mahomes, arguably the best quarterback in the game.
The Browns are coming off an 11-win season and a playoff victory, the first time the franchise has accomplished those feats since 1994. Head coach Kevin Stefanski injected new life into the franchise and salvaged Baker Mayfield’s career, as the Browns quarterback became one of the game’s most efficient quarterbacks in the second half of last year. Cleveland has arguably the best running back tandem in the NFL with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, along with a defense that has the potential to be among the top 10 in the league. The Browns are a contender to make a deep playoff run in the AFC.
Caesars Sportsbook has the Chiefs as 6-point favorites with an over/under of 54.5. Points will be scored in this one, especially with the duo of Mahomes and Reid. The Chiefs have averaged 31.4 points with Mahomes as the starting quarterback, the highest average for any team since 1950. They’re going to score points if Mahomes stays upright the entire game.
Mahomes had 16 touchdowns and zero interceptions on passes outside the pocket last season, the best ratio in the NFL. Throwing to Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill will have a very good Cleveland secondary on its heels, as the Browns will attempt to eliminate the big play.
The Browns have to get the run game going in order to have a shot at winning their first season opener since 2004. This is a tall task for Cleveland on the road but a good test for a franchise that will be competing for a conference title. Take the Chiefs and the points.
The regular season is set to get underway this weekend in the NFL, and two teams with high hopes to start the year get their campaigns started against one another as the Cleveland Browns visit the K.C. Chiefs in one of the bigger matchups of Week 1.
For Browns players and fans, the chance to take on the Chiefs in Week 1 is a chance to prove that they can expect new things in 2021. The Chiefs sent them packing in the postseason just last winter on their way to another Super Bowl, and the Chiefs have big things to prove again after remaking their offense live.
For the Browns, it’s also the first chance to see if star wideout Odell Beckham, Jr. is healthy after an ACL tear last season. On defense, the arrival of new signings like Troy Hill and John Johnson III in the secondary will be interesting to watch as Grant Delpit comes back from injury and rookie Greg Newsome joins the unit. Up front Jadeveon Clowney will hope to silence his doubters up front opposite Myles Garrett.
As for the Chiefs, they’ve completely rebuilt an offensive line (which features three rookies) in front of Patrick Mahomes and will face a stiff test against Joe Woods’ defense, although they are just coming together themselves.
Stream the Chiefs with fuboTV. Local channels available in most market, Cloud DVR, no cancellation fees. Start a 7-day free trial today and watch Week One for free.
Browns vs Chiefs Odds Week 1
The Week 1 betting odds on WynnBET have the Chiefs as 6-point favorites at home. They have -270 moneyline odds, while Washington is the underdog at +215. The total for the game is set at an over/under of 53 points.
Browns vs Chiefs Prediction Week 1
The Browns should look like a different team by season’s end than they will in Week 1, which isn’t to say they should be overlooked coming into Arrowhead. Rather, it’s admitting that most young teams need time to come together and there are simply too many new parts to believe that they are as good as they will be late in the season.
It also helps the Chiefs that Andy Reid is such a proven product overall and comes into September very, very prepared for the challengers ahead. Patrick Mahomes has never lost in September so far in his NFL career, and he’s already claimed the Chiefs have a goal of 20-0 after having completed a perfect preseason. The only thing that matters is the Super Bowl, of course, but the Chiefs sound ready to make a weekly statement and it begins here against the visiting Browns.
