So, you're sitting there, maybe wearing your favorite Myles Garrett jersey, wondering what time the browns game kicks off today. You’ve checked the usual apps. You've scrolled through Twitter.
The truth is a little bit of a letdown.
There is no game. Not today, January 17, 2026. While the NFL Divisional Round is in full swing with the Buffalo Bills taking on the Denver Broncos at 4:30 p.m. ET, the Cleveland Browns are already looking toward the draft. After finishing the 2025 season with a 5-12 record, the team missed the postseason entirely.
It sucks. Honestly, after the high hopes of the last few years, watching the playoffs from the couch is a tough pill for the Dawg Pound to swallow.
What Time the Browns Game Starts in 2026
Since the Browns aren't in the playoffs, you won't find a kickoff time for today. But the NFL machine never stops moving. The 2025 regular season wrapped up earlier this month, and the front office is already pivoting to the 2026 campaign.
We actually already know who the Browns will be playing next year, even if we don't have the exact calendar dates yet. Because they finished at the bottom of the AFC North, they get what’s traditionally called a "last-place schedule." In theory, this should make for an easier path back to the playoffs.
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They’ll be facing the AFC South and the NFC South next year. That means games against teams like the Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, and Atlanta Falcons are locked in.
The NFL usually drops the official 17-game schedule in mid-May. Until then, any "kickoff time" you see online for a Browns game is basically just a placeholder or a guess.
Why the Browns Aren't Playing Today
It’s been a weird year for Cleveland football. If you were looking for what time the browns game started because you expected them to be in the Divisional Round, you aren't alone. Many analysts picked them to be a wildcard contender.
Injuries, as always, played a massive role. When you’re cycling through offensive linemen and trying to find consistency at quarterback, the wins just don't stack up in a division as brutal as the AFC North.
Think about it. You’re playing the Ravens, Bengals, and Steelers twice a year. If you aren't at 100%, you're going to get beat. Cleveland finished 5-12, which puts them in the basement of the division for this cycle.
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Looking at Today's Playoff Schedule (January 17, 2026)
If you just need a football fix today, here is what’s actually on the schedule for the Divisional Round:
- Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos: 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
- San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks: 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX.
These are the teams that survived the Wild Card round last week. The Bills managed to edge out the Jaguars, while the Seahawks pulled off a bit of an upset to get here.
The Road to the 2026 Season
Even though there’s no game today, the Browns are still "in season" when it comes to roster building. The Senior Bowl is coming up soon, and that’s where the real work for the 2026 season begins.
With a top-five draft pick secured, Cleveland is in a prime position to snag a franchise-altering player. Fans are already debating whether they should go for another defensive powerhouse to pair with Garrett or finally find a definitive answer for the offense.
The 2026 home opponents are already set:
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- Baltimore Ravens
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Houston Texans
- Indianapolis Colts
- Atlanta Falcons
- Carolina Panthers
- Las Vegas Raiders
They’ll also be heading on the road to play the Giants and the Jets, which usually turns into a mini-vacation for Browns fans living on the East Coast.
How to Stay Updated on Browns News
If you want to be the first to know the official what time the browns game begins once the 2026 schedule is released, keep an eye on the NFL’s official announcement in May. Usually, it's a Wednesday or Thursday night "Schedule Release Special" on NFL Network.
Until then, you can spend your Saturdays watching the playoffs and scouting the potential draft picks. It isn't as fun as a home game at Huntington Bank Field, but it’s the reality of the 2026 off-season.
Keep your gear ready. The preseason usually kicks off in early August, and that's the next time we'll see the orange and brown back on the turf.
For now, the best thing you can do is focus on the draft. Check out the current Big Board rankings for the 2026 NFL Draft to see which offensive tackles or wide receivers might be available when Cleveland is on the clock. You can also start looking into season ticket renewals, as the "last-place schedule" often leads to a much more exciting home slate the following year.