Bengals Escape With Week 1 Win Over Browns Despite Offensive Struggles

The Cincinnati Bengals managed to shake off their notorious slow starts under Zac Taylor and opened the 2025 season with a 17 to 16 victory over the Cleveland Browns. It was far from pretty, but it was enough to put the Bengals at 1-0 and send the Browns home frustrated once again.

Bengals Finally Start on the Right Foot

Cincinnati has made a bad habit of stumbling out of the gate in recent years, but Sunday was different. Joe Burrow opened the game with a sharp, methodical scoring drive, while Chase Brown set the tone on the ground. The Bengals offense put up 14 points in the first half, just enough of a cushion to survive a stagnant second half.

The real difference came from the defense. Cincinnati capitalized on Cleveland’s mistakes, picking off two passes that bounced off Browns receivers and stalled promising drives. The Bengals also turned up the pressure late in the game, disrupting Joe Flacco and keeping Cleveland from completing the comeback. It was not a polished performance, but it was the win Cincinnati desperately needed to avoid another slow start.

Browns Blow Another Opportunity

Cleveland once again found a way to lose a game it could have easily won. The defense played lights out, holding the Bengals to just 7 yards in the entire second half, but the offense and special teams fell apart. Browns receivers dropped four on-target throws from Joe Flacco, two of which turned into interceptions, and two more that killed drives deep in Bengals territory.

Rookie kicker Andre Szmyt missed a game-tying extra point and later a potential go-ahead field goal, leaving crucial points on the board. Add in the dropped passes and Cleveland’s margin for error disappeared. Statistically, the Browns outplayed Cincinnati, but when it came time to make the key plays, they failed.

Plenty of Work Ahead for Cincinnati

The Bengals walked out with the win, but it was not the explosive performance many expected. The offense sputtered badly in the second half, the offensive line allowed too much pressure in the fourth quarter, and what is supposed to be one of the league’s most high-powered units looked ordinary.

Time will tell if this was simply the result of Jim Schwartz’s defense clamping down or if it is a warning sign for the weeks to come. For now, Zac Taylor and Joe Burrow have to find answers and get this offense back on track.

By the Numbers

• The Browns lost 93.8 percent in win probability on three plays: Jordan Battle’s second-quarter interception, Szmyt’s missed field goal in the fourth quarter, and DJ Turner’s late interception.

• Cincinnati finished with just 141 total net yards of offense, their second-lowest output in a win in franchise history.

• The Bengals defense forced two turnovers off dropped passes that shifted momentum.

The Bottom Line

The Bengals survived and moved to 1-0, but the performance left plenty to fix. Burrow and the offense will need to improve quickly to compete with the AFC’s elite.

The Browns, meanwhile, once again proved that dominating the box score means nothing if you fail to execute in key moments. Until Cleveland learns how to finish, these gut-punch losses will continue to define them.