Bengals win first opener since 2021 17-16 in Cleveland
CLEVELAND – September 7, 2025 – Brendon D. Miller
It was not encouraging, it was not fun, but it was a win to start the year! The Bengals and Browns kicked off the 2025 Season with the 104th Battle of Ohio. If not for two deflected Joe Flacco passes which resulted in interceptions and two missed kicks (a tying PAT, and a go ahead field goal) by Andre Szmyt, the Bengals would have likely have gone to defeat.
If you look at the stat line, you would not think the Bengals won this game. Total Yards – Cleveland 327 – 141; 1st Downs – Cleveland 22-11, and Time of Possession – Cleveland 35:41 to 24:11. The W was simply a gift from the Browns.
The game started with both teams hot offensively putting both defenses on their heels. The Bengals took opening kick and held the ball for 7:28 going 67 yards on 12 plays for open the scoring. Chase Brown scored from five to put Bengals up 7-0 7:32 1Q. Not to be outdone Flacco and the Brown held the ball the remaining 7:32 of the quarter and scored at 12:44 on a one yard Rocket Sanders plunge to tie the game at 7.
After both teams had to punt, the Bengals were able to mount a drive ending with Burrow hitting new arrival Noah Fant from six yards to put the Bengals up 14 – 7 with 4:21 to go in the half. The Brown responded with a drive that resulted in a 45 yard field goal by Szmyt. At the half, the Bengals were on top 14-10.
The Browns took the second half kick and drove 84 yards holding the ball for 7:40 to get a go ahead touch down as Flacco hit Tillman from five yards. Szmyt pushed the point after right and the Browns led 16-14 with 7:20 to go in the third. After a Bengals punt, Flacco was picked by Jordan Battle on a deflected ball giving the Bengals the ball at the Cleveland 36.
Burrow was able to pick up a first down converting a third and nine to Tee Higgins, but the drive stalled at the 17 and Evan McPherson connected from 35 to put the Bengals up 17-16 at 2:52.
That would be the final as neither team could score in the fourth. The Bengals punted four times in the fourth, while the Browns turned the ball over on downs, punted, were intercepted and Szmyt missed a 36 yarder. D.J. Turner was able to get his first career interception on a deflected ball by Tillman.
GAME STATS
TOTAL YARDS – (CIN)
PASSING Joe Burrow (CIN) – 14 for 23 for 113 yards and a TD, for a 87.8 rating Joe Flacco (CLE) – 31 for 45 for 290 yards and a TD, 2 INT for a 75.23 rating
RUSHING Chase Brown (CIN) – 21 for 43 with a TD with a long of 8 Dylan Sampson (CLE) – 12 for 39 with a long of 5
RECEIVING Tee Higgins (CIN) – 3 for 33 – long of 13 Ja’Marr Chase (CIN) – 2 for 26 – long of 20 Noah Fant (CIN) – 4 for 26, 1 TD, long of 12
TACKLES Jordan Battle – (CIN) – 12 tackles with 5 solos, INT Demetrius Knight (CIN) – 10 tackles with 8 solos Dax Hill (CIN) – 9 tackles with 5 solos Trey Hendrickson – 3 tackles with 3 solos, 1 sack and a TFL C. Schwesinger – 8 tackles with 3 solos, 1 TFL Miles Garrett – 5 tackles with 5 solos, 2 sacs and 4 TFL’s
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
TOTAL
BENGALS
7
7
3
0
17
BROWNS
7
3
6
0
16
NEXT
Bengals open at home next Sunday at 1:00 PM as the Jaguars come to Paycor.
