Green Bay will travel to Cleveland to take on the Browns in the preseason opener.
- This will be the 26th time the Packers and Browns have played in the preseason and will tie for the second-most preseason games Green Bay has played against any opponent (Pittsburgh and Washington, 26 / New York Giants, 30).
- This will be the ninth time that the Packers will play their first game of their preseason slate against the Browns. It is the first time since 2016, when Green Bay hosted Cleveland in what was supposed to be its second preseason contest but ended up being the first after field conditions canceled the Packers' first game in Canton, Ohio.
- It is the first time since 2011 that Green Bay will open the preseason in Cleveland.
- The Packers open on the road for the third consecutive preseason.
- Following the first preseason game, the Packers will have two open practices (Aug. 13-14) back in Green Bay, before going to Denver, where they will have a joint practice (Aug. 16) before facing the Broncos on Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. CT.
- With the three-game preseason schedule implemented in 2021, the Packers will alternate between hosting one and two preseason games each year. This year, the Packers will start with two road games before the Baltimore Ravens come to Lambeau Field to close out the preseason. The matchup with the Ravens is designated as the Packers Give Back Game, with a benefiting charity to be highlighted through the game and surrounding activities.
WITH THE CALL
Flagshipped by Milwaukee's WTMJ-TV and in conjunction with WGBA-TV in Green Bay, Packers preseason games are televised over a 22-station network throughout the state of Wisconsin, Upper Michigan and northeastern Minnesota, Peoria in Illinois, Cedar Rapids-Waterloo, Davenport and Des Moines in Iowa, Omaha in Nebraska, St. Louis in Missouri, Bismarck, Fargo and Minot in North Dakota, Sioux Falls in South Dakota and Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau in Alaska. All preseason games will also be broadcast on TELEMUNDO.
- The top-notch broadcast team includes CBS's Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) alongside former Green Bay fullback John Kuhn (analyst) with Ashley Washburn of WTMJ-TV serving as the sideline reporter. Washburn will also host an informative half-hour pregame show.
- In addition to flagship station WTMJ-TV and WGBA-TV, the games are televised over WQOW/ABC, Eau Claire, Wis.; WXOW/ABC, La Crosse, Wis.; WKOW/ABC, Madison, Wis.; WAOW/ABC, Wausau, Wis.; KQDS/FOX, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis.; WLUC-NBC/FOX UP, Escanaba/Marquette, Mich.; WMBD/CBS, Peoria/Bloomington, Ill.; KCCI/CBS, Des Moines, Iowa; WHBF/CBS, Davenport, Iowa; KWWL/NBC, Cedar Rapids/Waterloo, Iowa; KTVI/FOX, St. Louis, Mo.; KETV/ABC, Omaha, Neb.; KNDB/BEK, Bismarck, N.D.; KRDK/BEK, Fargo, N.D.; KNDM/BEK, Minot, N.D.; KDLT/NBC, Sioux Falls, S.D.; KYUR/ABC, Anchorage, Alaska; KATN/ABC, Fairbanks, Alaska and KJUD/ABC, Juneau, Alaska. For a map of the affiliates, please go to packers.com/video/tv-network.
- All Packers games can be heard on the Packers Radio Network, which is made up of 54 stations in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois and North and South Dakota. 97.3 The Game – WRNW-Milwaukee begins its third season as the flagship station of the Packers Radio Network. For a map and full listing of radio affiliates, go to packers.com/video/radio-network. Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play) and two-time Packers Pro Bowler Larry McCarren (analyst) call the action. McCarren first joined the team's broadcasts in 1995 and enters his 30th season calling Packers games. After originally being paired together in 1999, McCarren and Larrivee enter their 26th season of broadcasts together. They surpassed Jim Irwin and Max McGee for the most regular-season and postseason games broadcast for the Packers with 313 at the 2018 season opener against Chicago.
SAVE THE DATE
Important dates to remember (all times CT):
- Sunday, Aug. 18 – Second preseason game, at Denver Broncos, 7 p.m.
- Thursday, Aug. 22 – Last open practice of training camp (joint practice against Baltimore Ravens), 10:30 a.m.
- Saturday, Aug. 24 – Home preseason game, presented by Cenex, vs. Baltimore Ravens, 12 p.m.
- Tuesday, Aug. 27 – Roster reduction to a maximum of 53 players by 3 p.m.
- Wednesday, Aug. 28 – Upon receipt of the personnel notice, clubs may establish a practice squad of 17 players, as long as one player qualifies as an International Player.
- Friday, Sept. 6 – Regular-season opener at Philadelphia Eagles, São Paulo, Brazil, 7:15 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 15 – Home opener vs. Indianapolis Colts, Lambeau Field, 12 p.m.
THE DOPE ON THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT
Packers at Cleveland:
- All-time, regular season: 13-7
- All-time, postseason: 1-0
- All-time, preseason: 11-14
- All-time, at Cleveland (regular season): 7-4
- Streaks: Green Bay has won six of the last seven regular-season games played, including four straight (2009-21).
- Last meeting, regular season: Dec. 25, 2021, Lambeau Field, Packers won, 24-22
COACHES CAPSULES
- Matt LaFleur: 56-27-0, .675; (3-4 postseason); 6th NFL season
- Kevin Stefanski: 37-30, .552; (1-2 postseason); 5th NFL season
- Head to Head: LaFleur 1-0 vs. Stefanski
- vs. Opponent: LaFleur 1-0 vs. Browns; Stefanski 0-1 vs. Packers
MATT LaFLEUR…In his sixth season as the Packers' 15th head coach.
- Is in his 16th season in the NFL, having previously served as an offensive coordinator for two seasons (Los Angeles Rams, 2017; Tennessee Titans, 2018), a quarterbacks coach for six seasons (Washington Redskins, 2010-13; Atlanta Falcons, 2015-16), and an offensive assistant for two seasons (Houston Texans, 2008-09).
- In his first five seasons leading the Packers, has authored one of the greatest starts to a head-coaching career in NFL history. Per the Elias Sports Bureau, his 56 wins are tied for the second most in league history by a head coach in his first five seasons in the NFL, trailing only George Seifert (62 in 1989-93). Green Bay's 56-27 regular-season record since 2019 is tied for No. 3 in the NFL and ranks No. 1 in the NFC.
- Became the first coach in NFL history to post 13-plus wins in three straight seasons and his 39 wins from 2019-21 passed Seifert (38) for the most wins by an NFL head coach in his first three seasons in the league (Elias). His 39 wins are also tied for the second most by a coach over any three-season span in league history, trailing only Andy Reid's 40 wins with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2020-22 and Mike Ditka's 40 wins with the Chicago Bears from 1985-87 (Elias).
- Guided the Packers to a 32-9 record (.780) in the regular season from 2019-23 at Lambeau Field, the top home mark in the NFL over that span. His .733 win percentage (22-8 record) against NFC North opponents in his first five seasons also ranks as the best in the history of the NFC North/Central (min. 10 games).
- In his first season leading the Packers in 2019, became the first coach in club history to lead the team to the playoffs in his debut season. Also led the largest one-year win improvement in team history (plus-seven wins).
KEVIN STEFANSKI…In his fifth season as the Browns' 18th head coach.
- Is in his 19th season as an NFL coach, having previously spent 14 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings as an assistant to the head coach (2006-08), assistant QBs coach (2009-13), TEs coach (2014-15), RBs coach (2016), QBs coach/interim offensive coordinator (2017-18) and offensive coordinator (2019).
- Was named the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year in 2020 and 2023, becoming the 16th coach to win the award multiple times since its inception in 1957.
- Has posted the highest winning percentage for a head coach in team history over a four-year span since 1986-89, including two 11-win seasons (2020, 2023) and two postseason appearances (2020, 2023).
THE PACKERS-BROWNS SERIES
- The Browns won the first three contests of the series (1953-56) before the Packers won the next five games played, including the 1965 NFL Championship. Cleveland has not won back-to-back games in the series since 1955-56.
- Green Bay captured its ninth NFL title when the Packers defeated the Browns, 23-12, in the 1965 NFL Championship at Lambeau Field.
- The Packers have won six of the last seven games played, including the last four consecutive contests. Green Bay has scored 24-plus points in every game since 1995.
NOTABLE CONNECTIONS
Packers players and staff from Ohio: QB Sean Clifford (Cincinnati), WR Julian Hicks (Mayfield), C/G Josh Myers (Miamisburg), CB Carrington Valentine (Cincinnati), defensive backs coach Ryan Downard (Lima), defensive assistant Sean Duggan (Cincinnati)...Packers chief operating officer and general counsel Ed Policy was born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio...Packers players and staff who played collegiate football in Ohio: DL Karl Brooks (Bowling Green), LB Eric Wilson (Cincinnati), Myers (Ohio State), passing game coordinator Jason Vrable (Marietta College), offensive quality control coach Rob Grosso (John Carroll)...Packers coaches who have coached in Ohio: head coach Matt LaFleur (Ashland, 2007), defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley (Ohio State, 2019), running backs coach Ben Sirmans (Kent State, 2000-04), Vrable (Marietta College, 2007), Downard (Toledo, 2013; Bowling Green 2016-17), assistant defensive line coach Vince Oghobaase (Ohio State, 2013-15), Duggan (Ohio State, 2019), coaching assistant Myles White (Miami of Ohio, 2022-23), defensive quality control coach Anthony Perkins (Ohio University, 2015-16)…Hafley and Downard both served on the Browns' defensive staff from 2014-15…Packers TE Luke Musgrave's uncle, Bill Musgrave, is the senior offensive assistant for the Browns…Packers K Greg Joseph played for the Browns as a rookie in 2018...Browns G Wyatt Davis's grandfather, Willie Davis, played defensive end for the Packers and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981...Browns P Corey Bojorquez played for the Packers in 2021, appearing in all 17 games…Browns DE Za'Darius Smith played for the Packers from 2019-21, appearing in 33 games for Green Bay and earning two Pro Bowl selections as a Packer (2019-20)…Browns DB Tony Brown II played for the Packers from 2018-19, appearing in 20 games…Browns DT Shelby Harris is from Milwaukee, Wis., and attended Homestead High School in Mequon, Wis. …Browns CB Faion Hicks played collegiate football at Wisconsin from 2018-21…Browns assistant strength and conditioning coach Ty Taylor held the same title at Wisconsin from 2020-23...Offensive assistant Sean Mannion played for the Vikings when Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski was the offensive coordinator for Minnesota in 2019...Browns assistant general manager and VP of player personnel Glenn Cook worked as a pro scout for the Packers for four seasons (2012-15)…Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was the linebackers coach at Colgate University when Packers president/CEO Mark Murphy was the athletic director at Colgate…Browns area scout Dan Zegers is from De Pere, Wis., and attended St. Norbert College…Former college teammates: Packers S Xavier McKinney, RB Josh Jacobs, Browns RB Jerome Ford, WR Jerry Jeudy and Brown II (Alabama); Packers DL Rashan Gary, Browns ILB Devin Bush and T James Hudson (Michigan); Packers LB Quay Walker, DL Devonte Wyatt, CB Eric Stokes, DL Brenton Cox Jr. and Browns WR Matt Landers (Georgia).
