by The Cleveland Browns fell to 0-1 to start the 2025 season with a heartbreaking 17-16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. There is a lot to breakdown in this one with plenty of hot takes. Let’s get right to them!
The Cleveland Browns kicking game costs them again
Between short kickoffs and a lousy punt in the first half, the Bengals routinely started with great field position. In fact, their starting position in the first half for their 4 drives was
32 yard line following a kickoff.
40 yard line following a kickoff.
46 yard line following a punt.
26 yard line following a kickoff.
Mix that in with brand new rookie placekicker Andre Szmyt missing an extra point attempt in the third and then the possible game winning field goal in the fourth, both chip shots, and it cost the Browns the game.
Dropped passes and turnovers cost the Cleveland Browns
Say what you want, but Joe Flacco looked good. He went 31 of 45 for 290 yards with a touchdown and two picks. The two interceptions were not his fault as both bounced off the hands of would be receivers Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman. One cost them the game possible winning drive and the other created a short field for the Bengals to eventually kick what became the game winning field goal at 17-16. You cannot blame this one on Flacco.
Lack of running game hurts the Cleveland Browns yet again.
Cleveland had no running game to speak of today as Jerome Ford was limited to 8 yards on 6 carries while rookie Dylan Sampson went for 29 yards on 12 carries. The Browns need Quinshon Judkins in the lineup making plays as soon as possible.
The Rookies played well.
Rookie running back Dylan Sampson was one of the brightest spots of the day as he caught 8 passes for 64 yards and was the key cog in the third quarter touchdown drive to start the second half. Fellow rookie, tight end Harold Fannin Jr caught 7 passes for 63 yards. Mason Graham and Carson Schwesinger combined for 11 total tackles as the latter played extremely well.
Myles Garret jumps offside on very first play of the season.
Nice to see the most overrated and overpaid player in NFL History has learned absolutely nothing in that category as he continues to jump offsides on a regular basis.
The Bengals conduct a 12 play 68-yard opening scoring drive.
The Browns had no pass rush on the drive and no run stopping game. The two biggest ways to let the opposing team score at will.
The Browns answer with a 16 play 67-yard drive to score on a 1 yard Sanders rushing touchdown.
A nice drive led by veteran quarterback Joe Flacco. The Browns didn’t panic and try to get it all back at once, they stuck to their plan and it worked. They were also saved by several pass interference calls and a timely roughing the passer.
After two punts, the Bengal’s once again take advantage of great field position to start a possession.
Yet again, the Bengals get a short field and take full advantage of it. Cincy started at their own 46 yard line after a bad Cleveland punt, and proceed to quickly go 54 yards in 8 plays in just 4:13 to score on a Burrow 1 yard touchdown pass to Noah Fant. This made it 14-7 with 4:22 to play in the first half.
Jack Conklin hurt again!
In other news, the grass is green and the sky is up!
Clock management to end the first half was a bit spotty
With less then a minute to go, the Browns still had all 3 timeouts left. They didn’t take one until 33 seconds remained and they faced a third down. You don’t get to take them with you into the second half. They ended up having to settle for an Andre Szmyt 45-yard field goal. Now, I don’t know, could have been better if they used the timeouts and called better plays, but we’ll take the 3 to send the game to half with the Bengals up 14-10.
The Browns start the second off hot
One of the biggest problems with last years Cleveland Browns was terrible third quarters and no adjustments made at halftime. This week, they erased that with a strong drive to start the second half and take their first lead of the game. Flacco calmly led a 7:35 drive, covering 69 yards and capped it off with a 5 yard touchdown pass to Cedric Tillman to hand the browns their first lead of the game at 16-14 as Andre Szmyt missed the PAT. Rookie running back Dylan Sampson made several big catches and runs on the drive to keep it going.
Kicking and turnovers kills Cleveland again!
In a short span of time, Andre Szmyt misses the extra point then the Browns turn it over on their next drive as Flacco’s pass bounces of the hands of Jeudy. This allowed Cincinnati a short field to kick a field goal and re-take the lead at 17-16. Kicking and turnoverers come back to burn Cleveland in the third quarter.
Drops loom large to kill the next Cleveland drive.
Back-to-back drops by Harold Fannin Jr and Jerry Jeudy, turn the ball over on downs and kill a promising drive. This keeps the Browns down 17-16 and hands the ball back to Cincinnati with great starting field position at their own 40-yard line. Luckily for the Browns, they finally force a three and out!
