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Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cleveland Browns: PFM Team Comparison

The Kansas City Chiefs hold a major overall advantage over the Cleveland Browns in the current PFM ratings. Kansas City separates itself through the steadier quarterback room and the stronger coaching operation.

Current PFM Team Scores

Major edgeKC

Kansas City Chiefs

87.8PFM Team Score#3 NFL
CLE

Cleveland Browns

71.4PFM Team Score#31 NFL
Swap Teams Clear Comparison
PFM JUDGMENT

Why PFM Rates the Kansas City Chiefs Higher

Patrick Mahomes gives the Kansas City Chiefs the steadier quarterback room. That lets the offense stay on schedule without asking the rest of the team to cover constant uncertainty. The Cleveland Browns are closest in defense, where the teams remain essentially even.

Kansas City also brings the stronger coaching operation. Kansas City adds the more dependable offense. The Kansas City Chiefs still deserves the higher PFM rating.

TEAM DNA COMPARISON

Kansas City vs. Cleveland Across the Core Pillars

The farther a team reaches, the stronger the rating. Each category also calls out which team has the edge and the exact gap. Hover on desktop or tap on mobile to isolate one team.

KCKansas City Chiefs
CLECleveland Browns
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cleveland Browns Team DNA comparisonPFM category scores on a 0 to 100 scale. QB Stability: Kansas City Chiefs 87.4, Cleveland Browns 66.8, edge KC +20.6; Offense: Kansas City Chiefs 83.0, Cleveland Browns 70.3, edge KC +12.7; Defense: Kansas City Chiefs 84.3, Cleveland Browns 84.2, edge Even; Coaching Direction: Kansas City Chiefs 92.3, Cleveland Browns 73.0, edge KC +19.3; Roster Depth: Kansas City Chiefs 85.0, Cleveland Browns 76.3, edge KC +8.7. Hover on desktop or tap on mobile to isolate one team at a time.
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CLEVELAND’S BEST PUSHBACK

Defense Is Cleveland’s Only Close Fight

Cleveland's defense gives the team one place to push back. The Browns are only 0.1 points behind Kansas City in Defense, but that is where Cleveland's case ends. Kansas City still has Patrick Mahomes at quarterback and the deeper roster, two advantages the Browns cannot match in this comparison.

COMPLETE COMPARISON

Where Each Team Has the Edge

PFM Team Score

KC87.8
Kansas City Chiefs 87.8
CLE71.4
Cleveland Browns 71.4
Major Kansas City Chiefs edge

Overall NFL Rank

KC#3
Kansas City Chiefs #3
CLE#31
Cleveland Browns #31
Kansas City Chiefs ranks higher

QB Stability

KC87.4
Kansas City Chiefs 87.4
CLE66.8
Cleveland Browns 66.8
Major Kansas City Chiefs edge

Roster Strength

KC85.0
Kansas City Chiefs 85.0
CLE76.3
Cleveland Browns 76.3
Clear Kansas City Chiefs edge

Coaching Direction

KC92.3
Kansas City Chiefs 92.3
CLE73.0
Cleveland Browns 73.0
Major Kansas City Chiefs edge

Recent Performance

KC75.6
Kansas City Chiefs 75.6
CLE67.4
Cleveland Browns 67.4
Clear Kansas City Chiefs edge

Offense

KC83.0
Kansas City Chiefs 83.0
CLE70.3
Cleveland Browns 70.3
Major Kansas City Chiefs edge

Defense

KC84.3
Kansas City Chiefs 84.3
CLE84.2
Cleveland Browns 84.2
Essentially even

Franchise Direction

KC80.1
Kansas City Chiefs 80.1
CLE69.4
Cleveland Browns 69.4
Major Kansas City Chiefs edge

Explosiveness

KC80.0
Kansas City Chiefs 80.0
CLE63.8
Cleveland Browns 63.8
Major Kansas City Chiefs edge

Conference Rank

KC#1
Kansas City Chiefs #1
CLE#15
Cleveland Browns #15
Kansas City Chiefs ranks higher

Division Rank

KC#1
Kansas City Chiefs #1
CLE#4
Cleveland Browns #4
Kansas City Chiefs ranks higher

Outlook

KCSuper Bowl ContenderCLERebuilding or Major Concerns
Stronger outlook: Kansas City Chiefs
TEAM CONSTRUCTION

How These Teams Are Built Differently

Kansas City Chiefs

Strongest Rating
Coaching Direction
Category Edge
QB Stability
Biggest Matchup Concern
No clear matchup concern

Kansas City's clearest category edge is QB Stability. The Kansas City Chiefs ask fewer questions at quarterback because Patrick Mahomes sets the floor of the offense against the Cleveland Browns. That stability matters when a game moves away from the opening script. Cleveland does not own a separate category that creates a major matchup concern.

Cleveland Browns

Strongest Rating
Defense
Category Edge
None in this matchup
Biggest Matchup Concern
QB Stability

Cleveland's strongest current rating is Defense, and that part of the comparison is essentially even. The biggest problem in this matchup is QB Stability, where Kansas City owns the clearer advantage.

SCHEDULE CONTEXT

Which Team Has the Tougher Road?

Kansas City Chiefs

Full schedule rank: #12

Toughest stretch: Los Angeles Chargers, Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos

Strongest opponents: Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers

View Kansas City Chiefs Road Ahead

Cleveland Browns

Full schedule rank: #32

Toughest stretch: Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, Cincinnati Bengals

Strongest opponents: Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens

View Cleveland Browns Road Ahead

Kansas City has the tougher Road Ahead at No. 12. The strongest opponents include Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, and San Francisco 49ers. Cleveland gains one meaningful schedule advantage, while Kansas City still owns the stronger football advantages elsewhere.

View the complete all-32 Road Ahead

Ratings and Schedule Freshness

PFM ratings updated September 8, 2026. Schedule data updated June 29, 2026.

How to Read This Comparison

PFM Team Score determines the overall order. The Team DNA comparison puts five core pillars on the same 0–100 scale, while the full rows show every current category.

PFM compares overall team strength rather than predicting one matchup. Road Ahead adds schedule context without changing PFM Team Score.

See the complete PFM NFL Team Rankings and methodology.

PFM ratings updated
How PFM grades NFL teams