Browns fans hoping for a repeat of 2023's success were left disappointed in 2024, as the team finished tied for an NFL-worst 3-14 record. The scoring offense ranked as the league's worst, producing just 15.2 points per game, while the defense ranked inside the bottom six in points allowed. Cleveland also endured two separate losing streaks of five games or more. Suffice to say, it was not a productive campaign.
Perhaps things will be different in 2025. The Browns, who have had 40 different starting quarterbacks since 1999, brought back 40-year-old Joe Flacco to be QB1. The veteran will be backed up by rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.
The defense remains anchored by Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward, and former Alabama and Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees has taken over the same role for the Browns. Alongside head coach Kevin Stefanski and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, the coaching staff looks solid.
And now for Cleveland's schedule. In addition to the usual channel rotation of CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC/ESPN and NFL Network, this season's streaming rights also extend to Amazon Prime, Netflix, Peacock and YouTube. It can get exhausting (and annoying) to keep up with these changes, so we've compiled a league-wide overview of how the current broadcast carousel works. All of the info below is formatted specifically for the Browns (pre-time flexes, which start as early as Week 5 this year).
The first thing we'll need to watch all 17 regular-season games is a television package. Here are the most popular domestic options, contingent on local availability, with pricing as of August 2025:
Average monthly cost: $85-100. Depending on the carrier, this will cover all NFL action except for out-of-market games, "Thursday Night Football" on Prime and the Christmas slate on Netflix.
CBS and Fox will carry the majority of Browns games in 2025. The bulk of these are 1 p.m. kickoffs, though Weeks 11 and 12 will see Cleveland occupy the late-afternoon window.
For the most part, CBS has the AFC home games and Fox has the NFC ones. That's not absolute, though. In general, these over-the-air channels show games pertinent to the region. When there's no local team to prioritize, they'll show a game of national intrigue. Fox specifically brands this second afternoon window as "America's Game of the Week."
Both networks have several broadcast teams to spread around the league on Sundays. Here's a refresher on those lineups:
CBS -- "Hello Friends" Team
Jim Nantz and Tony Romo / Tracy Wolfson sideline
Ian Eagle and JJ Watt / Evan Washburn
Kevin Harlan and Trent Green / Melanie Collins
Andrew Catalon, Charles Davis and Jason McCourty / AJ Ross
Spero Dedes and Adam Archuleta / Aditi Kinkhabwala
Fox -- "Dancing Robots" Team
Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady / Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi sideline
Joe Davis and Greg Olsen / Pam Oliver
Adam Amin and Mark Sanchez / Kristina Pink
Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma / Megan Olivi
Kevin Kugler and Daryl Johnston / Allison Williams
Chris Myers and Mark Schlereth / Jen Hale
What you'll need to watch: One of the aforementioned cable or streaming packages, or a broadcast antenna for free over-the-air access. Local CBS games can also be streamed on Paramount+ (starting at $7.99/month). Local Fox games can also be streamed on Fox One (starting at $19.99/month).
Out-of-market Browns fans will need to purchase NFL Sunday Ticket to watch their team on Sunday afternoons this season. For an extra fee, you can get NFL RedZone, the frenetic live whip-around anchored by Scott Hanson. That man is peerless in his love for American football.
What you'll need to watch: YouTube is the current digital home provider of NFL Sunday Ticket (DirecTV carries it for businesses). New Sunday Ticket users can subscribe for $276/year, which comes out to $23/month. Returning users with YouTube TV are charged $378, or $31.50/month, and those without YouTube TV pay $480 ($40/month). These are the prices without RedZone.
Additionally, the league's NFL+ Premium app has standalone RedZone access for 12 installments of $14.99. Full out-of-market games can't be streamed live here, though, making it a better option for fantasy players rather than dedicated team loyalists.
The Athletic's Andrew Marchand reported that ESPN recently sold 10 percent of its equity to the NFL in exchange for league media assets (NFL Network, cable RedZone rights and fantasy football games). So, as of Sept. 3, the new ESPN Unlimited direct-to-consumer (DTC) service is offering a bundle with NFL+ Premium for $39.99/month.
Average monthly cost: $23-40
Sundays always end with "Sunday Night Football," featuring Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth in the booth. Tirico is the successor to longtime SNF voice Al Michaels. Collinsworth, well ... "here's a guy" who gets really excited about nickel corners and pass-blocking running backs. Melissa Stark is NBC's Sunday night sideline reporter.
As we get into the later weeks, NBC will flex into matchups with greater playoff implications. The same goes for ABC/ESPN (Mondays) and Prime Video (Thursdays). Network flexing is a contentious issue, though. Putting a more compelling game on national TV rewards viewers at home, but sudden schedule changes obviously hurt traveling fans. For SNF in Weeks 5-13, a flex must be announced at least 12 days before the game. That window halves to a six-day warning in Weeks 14-17.
The Browns are not scheduled appear on "Sunday Night Football" this year ... unless they get flexed into it down the road. That would imply playoff gravity in Cleveland, which of course Browns faithful would be cool with.
What you'll need to watch: A TV package, or a broadcast antenna for free over-the-air access, or a Peacock account (sports subscription with ads starts at $10.99 per month).
Here's where you'll find end-of-week pageantry with Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and the inescapable theme music. Industry vet Lisa Salters dispatches from the sideline, along with Laura Rutledge. When there are multiple Monday night listings, Chris Fowler does play-by-play on the doubleheader's other game, with former safety Louis Riddick and former quarterback Dan Orlovsky on color commentary. Katie George and Peter Schrager cover the sidelines with that group. The MNF crew for ESPN Deportes includes play-by-play woman Rebeca Landa and analyst Sebastian Martinez-Christensen, with sideline reports from MJ Acosta-Ruiz and the incomparable John Sutcliffe.
There will usually be a simulcast on ESPN2 anchored by Peyton and Eli Manning. Sometimes, the Super Bowl-winning brothers offer unique vantage points on late-game situations. Flacco appeared on the "ManningCast" last year ... though he relived his time with the Ravens (specifically, their "Mile High Miracle," a play that helped beat Peyton and the Denver Broncos on Baltimore's way to Super Bowl XLVII).
Monday flexes go down Weeks 12-17, with the 12-day window for changes. While not all that surprising, the Browns start 2025 without any MNF looks on the calendar.
What you'll need to watch: A TV package, or ESPN is also available with the new ESPN DTC service ($29.99 per month).
This marks year No. 4 of TNF on Amazon. Al Michaels does play-by-play, and he's joined by Kirk Herbstreit ("College GameDay" staple and Golden Retriever enthusiast). Kaylee Hartung handles the sideline reporting. Thursday games are on the Prime Video app for national audiences, and broadcasts are free over the air in the two teams' home markets. Alternatively, TNF can be streamed on Twitch or with an NFL+ subscription (mobile only, however).
Last year's ill-fated first TNF flex did not lead to new safeguards; rather, the league reduced the notice window from 28 days down to 21. Again, those flexes favor folks at home who want exciting and relevant late-season viewing, but it brings chaos to ticket holders and the participating teams themselves.
Cleveland is currently not scheduled for any TNF games this season, either.
What you'll need to watch: Amazon Prime, which costs $14.99 per month, or NFL+ ($6.99/month). TNF is also free on Twitch with a registered account.
Average monthly cost: $0-15
In addition to a Week 1 Friday feature in Brazil, the NFL's world tour hits Ireland, England, Germany and Spain this year. Other than the Brazil game on YouTube, the rest of the international slate can be found on NFL Network and kicks off Sundays at 9:30 a.m.
Overseas fans are restricted from much of the regular season flow, sadly. NFL Game Pass on DAZN is the solution for the growing number of American football fans in international markets (pricing by country can be found here). The Athletic's Matt Slater also recently reported that Channel 5 is picking up a few free-to-air Sunday kickoffs for U.K. followers.
If it's any consolation for the lack of SNF, Monday and Thursday games on Cleveland's schedule, the team will head across the pond to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in early October.
Only one Browns game remains without an exact time slot, and that's the season finale visit to the Cincinnati Bengals. The entirety of the Week 18 schedule will be announced after Week 17 is in the books. We at least know it won't be a Thursday or Monday game, though Week 18 does have some Saturday slots reserved for matchups with playoff implications.
In making it to the other side, you're greeted by a glowing loop of Myles Garrett soul-crushing sacks. Enjoy those, you've earned them: