One-Point Heartbreak: Browns Drop Season Opener to Bengals, 17-16

Young Horn
4 days ago
3 min read

The Cleveland Browns kicked off their 2025 campaign at Huntington Bank Field with a tightly contested battle against division rival Cincinnati—and came up just short, bowing out 17–16. From start to finish, this game hung in the balance, and unfortunately for Browns fans, it slipped away in the final moments.

Flacco’s Effort Meets Tough Finish

Joe Flacco delivered a solid outing under center—churning out 259 passing yards, including a touchdown, but also tossing two interceptions that proved costly when it counted most. Flacco is a gun slinger, cant hate him taking shots against a Cinci defense that was very bad last year.

A Last-Second Opportunity… and a Turnover

With less than two minutes remaining, the Browns had one last shot. Starting from their own 33-yard line, Flacco found tight end David Njoku for a modest 9-yard gain. But the next play unraveled: a pass intended for Cedric Tillman deflected off his hands and into the arms of Bengals corner DJ Turner II—an interception that sealed Cleveland’s fate.

Earlier in the fourth, the offense had another chance to seize the lead—only to come away empty when kicker Andre Szmyt missed a 36-yard field goal with 2:25 left. Szmyt had earlier made a 45-yard field goal—his first in the league—but also missed the extra point after Flacco’s touchdown throw to Tillman.

Even after forcing the Bengals into a quick three-and-out, the Browns couldn’t capitalize. With just 19 seconds left, they mounted a brief drive that ended with an incompletion, a short 6-yard catch by Jamari Thrash, and a 25-yard connection to Jerry Jeudy—but the clock ran out before another shot.

Defense Stood Tall

Cleveland’s defense held strong all afternoon.

Joe Burrow was held to just 113 passing yards and completed around 60.6% of his throws.
Top targets Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins combined for just five receptions—Chase with 26 yards and Higgins with 33 yards.

Cornerback Denzel Ward and CB Greg Newsome II delivered multiple pass deflections, including clutch third-down coverage that forced runners out of bounds. Linebacker Carson Schwesinger produced standout plays—especially a thunderous hit on Chase Brown that forced an incompletion and led the Bengals to settle for a field goal on that series.

But the highlight came late: Myles Garrett unleashed back-to-back sacks on Burrow in the fourth quarter, followed by a third-down stop from Isaiah McGuire on the next play—moments that briefly breathed life (and hope) into the Browns’ comeback.

Rookie Sparks on Both Sides

Several first-year players made their presence felt:

RB Dylan Sampson led the team both in rushing (29 yards) and receiving (64 yards on eight catches).
TE Harold Fannin Jr. was also a reliable target, hauling in six catches for 62 yards.
RB Raheim Sanders punched in Cleveland’s opening touchdown on a 1-yard drive.
Defensively, Schwesinger topped the team with seven tackles, and DT Mason Graham logged three tackles himself.

Looking Ahead

Though they came up short, there’s plenty to build on heading into Week 2. The Browns will head to Baltimore on Sunday, September 14 at 1 p.m. ET, ready to regroup and chase their first win of the season. Flacco revenge game against the Ravens.

Despite the one-point loss, this opener showcased a team that climbed back from behind, played hard on defense, and saw promising flashes from its rookie class. If the early rhythm sticks and the miscues—like missed kicks and untimely turnovers—can be cleaned up, Cleveland might just be a full team away from turning this close loss into a win next time.