Cleveland Browns: Several ‘firsts’ for kickoff against Chiefs highlight team’s progress

Cleveland Browns firsts: Kansas City here we come in Week 1

When I started reviewing the Chiefs’ and Browns’ history of competing against each other, I was surprised to see how many games the two teams have played against each other over the last 50 years. The Chiefs hold a 14-11-2 series record on the Browns that started back in 1971.

This season-opening contest between these two storied NFL franchises will be the first time they’ve opened the season against each other since 2002. That year the Browns went 10-6. In that game with the Chiefs, it was the not so memorable Browns DE Dwayne Rudd throwing his helmet off in celebration of what he thought was an opening season win 39-37. But his blunder was called as a penalty and extended the game one last down.

Rudd thought the game was over after the Chiefs quarterback was sacked, but instead, the quarterback lateralled the ball to another player which extended the play, and because it was a defensive penalty the game was extended one untimed down where the Chiefs kicked the go-ahead field goal to grab victory from defeat. It was such a deflating start to the season for the Browns.

This will be the first time the Browns have opened the season in Kansas City in 31 years when they opened up with a 6-3 victory at Arrowhead. Browns quarterback Kosar started that game but was injured. Hopefully, that same fate doesn’t meet up with Mayfield.

The only other game the Browns opened up there against the Chiefs was a 1979 thriller where the Browns also won 27-24. Browns quarterback Brian Sipe threw three touchdowns that game including one to legendary Browns tight end Ozzie Newsome.

The firsts this season will keep coming folks! Enjoy the opening day festivities and let’s prepare for a “Victory Monday”!