The Cleveland Browns fell just short in their season opener, losing 17-16 to the Cincinnati Bengals at Huntington Bank Field. Despite staying within one score for most of the game and even holding the lead at times, the Browns couldn’t finish in the fourth quarter.
Four takeaways from the Browns' 17-16 loss to the Bengals:
1. Late-game mistakes cost the Browns
Cleveland had a chance to take the lead with under two minutes left, but a critical interception by Bengals CB DJ Turner II ended the potential game-winning drive. Earlier, kicker Andre Szmyt missed a 36-yard field goal that would have tied the game. The Browns got the ball back with 19 seconds remaining, but an incomplete pass and a short connection to Jerry Jeudy sealed their fate.
2. Defense showed flashes but fell short
The Browns limited Joe Burrow to just 113 passing yards and held Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to a combined 59 yards. Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome II combined for three passes defensed, while LB Carson Schwesinger and DE Myles Garrett applied pressure in critical moments, including Garrett’s back-to-back sacks late in the fourth quarter. The defense forced punts and kept the game within reach, but couldn’t create the turnover or stop the decisive Bengals plays when it mattered most.
3. Rookies made immediate contributions
Cleveland’s newcomers made their presence felt. RB Dylan Sampson led the team in both rushing (29 yards) and receiving (64 yards on eight catches), while TE Harold Fannin Jr. added 63 receiving yards on seven catches. Raheim Sanders scored the Browns’ first touchdown of the game on a 1-yard run. On defense, first-round DT Mason Graham had three tackles, and Schwesinger led all tacklers with eight, showing the young players can step up early in the season.
4. Offense struggled in key moments
Joe Flacco finished with 290 passing yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. While Flacco and his targets like Cedric Tillman and David Njoku made some solid plays, the Browns’ offense sputtered in crucial fourth-quarter situations. Missed field goals, turnovers, and inability to sustain drives in the red zone ultimately prevented Cleveland from closing out the tight game.
Up next for Cleveland: Sunday, September 14 vs. Baltimore Ravens (1:00 p.m. ET on CBS)
