The Cincinnati Bengals kicked off the 2025 season with a narrow win over the Cleveland Browns in the first Battle of Ohio of the year. It wasn’t pretty — a sluggish offense and some early-game chaos — but a win is a win.
Four takeaways from Bengals' 17-16 win over Browns:
1. Offense struggles to find rhythm
Joe Burrow threw for just 113 yards as the Bengals’ attack looked disjointed at times. The team managed only 2.9 yards per play, struggling to generate momentum outside of a scripted opening drive. Procedural errors, penalties, and miscommunications slowed things down, highlighting areas that need cleanup early in the season.
2. Rookies make an impact on defense
Shemar Stewart nearly had a big first-quarter play with a batted pass at the line of scrimmage, while Demetrius Knight Jr. led the team with eight tackles in the first half and finished with 10 total. Joseph Ossai also came up big, forcing a Joe Flacco interception to Jordan Battle in the third quarter. The young defenders were crucial in limiting the Browns enough to escape with the win.
3. Offensive line and key injuries cause headaches
Lucas Patrick exited early with an injury and was replaced by Dalton Risner, while Logan Wilson returned after missing time due to injury. The Bengals also gave up three consecutive sacks on a critical fourth-quarter drive, showing the offensive line still has work to do protecting Burrow and keeping drives alive.
4. Noah Fant and Knight Jr. shine
Tight end Noah Fant led all Bengals targets through the fourth quarter and scored a touchdown, finishing with four catches for 26 yards. Rookie linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. also stood out with 10 tackles and a pass defended, showing he can step up in a key defensive role.
Up next for Cincinnati: Sunday, September 14 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (1:00 p.m. ET on CBS)
