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NFL Opts For Packers, Not Browns To Open 2024 Season In Brazil
Despite expressing interest in participating in the NFL's newest international matchup, the Browns won't be facing the Eagles in Week 1.
The Packers, not the Browns, will head to São Paulo, Brazil to face the Eagles in Week 1.
The NFL made the announcement official on Wednesday, one day after Packers president Mark Murphy suggested his team had the inside track for the contest due to the team's popularity in Brazil. The game is scheduled for a Friday night kickoff on Sept. 6, marking the first time since 1970 that the league will feature a Week 1 Friday night game.
The NFL first announced the new addition to their international slate back in February, declaring the Eagles as the designated home team for the contest. That immediately sparked speculation that the Browns could end up being their opponent and the team even expressed internal interest in participating in the league's first game to be played in South America.
As recently as the league's owners meetings at the end of March it became known that the Browns and Packers were the two finalists to serve as Philadelphia's opponent. In the end, they opted for the latter. The league also announced at the owner's meetings that Peacock had acquired exclusive streaming rights to the Brazil game.
The Browns last played in an international game in 2017, in what was a 33-16 loss to the Vikings. To this point that was the franchise's only appearance in an international game since the league adopted the practice back in 2007. There's still a chance that Cleveland could play internationally next season as they are slated to play a road game against the Jacksonville Jaguars who make up part of the league's London series games this year.
The NFL is expected to reveal the London matchups next month ahead of the annual full-schedule release.
With the Brazil game now off the table for Cleveland, a Week 1 opener at home is very much in play now. Back in January the team and the city announced a major concert at Cleveland Browns Stadium, featuring Bill Joel and Rod Stewart, which is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 13. That event would make it a tall task for the stadium grounds crew to turn around the field in time for a Sunday home game, which means they'll likely be on the road in Week 2.
