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Cleveland, Ohio – 07. September: Joe Burrow # 9 Cincinnati Bengals throws passage during the third quarter against Cleveland Brown during the game at Huntington Bank field 07. September 2025. years in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photography Jason Miller / Getty Images)
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In sports they often say it doesn’t matter how you just win what you do. For Cincinnati Bengals, their victory of 17-16 years over Cleveland Browns on Sunday was the definition of that saying. Under Zac Taylor, who was the main coach of the team since 2019. It was just another time that Bengali opened the season with victory. However, the way they pulled it out has made a little relief of concern.
This was not a shop window competitor with a super act bending muscle against an inferior opponent. It was a slow, wrong game that Cincinnati survived more than she won. Browns had every opportunity to take him and simply threw him.
Looking at the result of the box talking about the story about how much one-sided game was from the point of view of statistics. Browns cut Bengale 327-141, doubled the number of the first falls and held the ball for another 11 minutes. Only in the second half, brown held Bengals only seven overall meters. It was a game that even Bengals Quarterback Joe Barrow thought they were lucky to win.
“We’ll take it. Whenever you can win like this, it’s kind of stealing,” he told the media after the game. “We stole it today, we are I’m going to have to do better.“
But while The result of the box says one thingThe way in which the game took place prominent emphasis in which Bengali fought and how they managed to steal victory in the opening of the season.
Bengals foul under siege
For most of the game, Bengali looked overflowing in trenches, especially while they were on a violation. Braons defensive line, led by the future hall of the Miles Garrett Fair, managed to get penetration almost at the will and held Bengals only 46 meters away. That same defense line also retained Bengals, how to decay and misdemeanor from the rhythm, giving a burrow that there was no time to find their receivers.
Burrow finished only 113 crossing the yard, its third lowest in the whole game, because entry in the league in 2021. years, and the decline in the case of 273. Such inefficiency is not only about rust, it is about protection. The offense struck strongly on deep routes that never had time to develop, curious choice on the front brown forelimb LED Mile Garrett. Instead of sloping on fast throwing or designed transitions, Cincinnati has released Cleveland dictates a tempo, and buried for him.
Yes, Barrow was led by two players for Topovndown, but there was no stretching in which the criminal offense was pronounced. For a team that was built around its star quarrels and receivers, it is a worrying way to start the season.
Defensively, Cincinnati Cliveland held only 16 points, a number that would be in a given week. But, but most of the afternoon, the defense struggled to close the environment and seemed willing to give up the shorter passages they had Cleveland Clipping Avaifield.
But with the numbers they were, how were Bengals managed to withdraw only the victory in the second week 1 in the last seven years? Opportunist performances and pretty little luck with the ball.
Cleveland, Ohio – 07. September: Cincinnati Bengals are celebrated after the third quarter of Cleveland’s brown during the game on the Loncunton bank field 07. September 2025. in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photography Jason Miller / Getty Images)
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To happily go spoiler
Browns had more chances to put the match and send Cincinnati to the fourth level 0-1. Browns took the lead in half in the third quarter, but Rookie Kicker Andre Szmit pushed an additional point wide right to have a match from 16-14. In the next brown possession, Joe Flacco in Jerry Jeudy was dropped into the air in the hands in the hands of the Jordanian battle. The interception set Bengale deep in Brown’s territory for the goal goal for the upcoming goal from Evan McPherson.
After Bengals foul went to the rest of the discs from that point, Cleveland once again had the opportunity, but Szmit pushed another shot, this one from 36 meters, again.
To the Bengal’s loan, their defense deserves some praise. Interception of DJ Turner with 1:30 to seal it, and earlier the former dials gave a brief field that led to the mentioned McPherson hitting. Trey Hendrickson added a sack, and the secondary has solidified when it is most important. For a unit facing criticism during 2024. years there were some encouraging signs.
But even then, let’s be honest: it was not a defensive masterpiece. It was a defense that uses mistakes. Against the AFC elite, the mistakes that the Cleveland will let the slider punish.
If Bengals are serious about the candidates, they have to take this ugly victory as a wake-up call. Barrow must be sharper. Ja’marr Chase and Tee Higgins must be imposed. The offensive line must give this unit a chance to establish a rhythm. Because it relies on defensive reversals and opponent’s measure, it is not sustainable. Not in this league; not by this schedule; not with the expectations of Cincinnati wear.
So yes, Bengals are 1-0. They are tied to the first place In AFC North. And for a franchise often stumbled from the gate, it may feel like progress. But don’t confuse relief to assure. If nothing else, winning a week has raised more questions than answers.
The luck wins. Everyone counts. But before, instead of later, Bengals will have to prove that they can win because of who they are, not because of who the second team is not.
