Browns lose in the most Cleveland way ever instead of upsetting Bengals

Billy Heyen

•
Browns lose in the most Cleveland way ever instead of upsetting Bengals image

The Cleveland Browns lost in a way only they could.

They had multiple chances to upset the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL regular season. But they couldn't get it done.

And not only was it a defeat, but one done in an absolutely embarrassing way.

The Browns essentially had two late-game drives with a chance, and a huge mistake before that.

First, they scored to take a 16-14 lead, but Andre Szmyt missed the extra point. That was midway through the third quarter but is worth remembering.

The Bengals took the lead 17-16 late in the third on an Evan McPherson field goal.

The fourth quarter didn't have any points, but the Browns should've.

First, with 2:25 to play, Szmyt missed a 36-yard field goal attempt wide right.

MORE: Michael Vick, DeSean Jackson make personal college football coaching history

The Browns needed a stop just to get the ball back, and they forced a three-and-out in just 32 seconds.

But on the second play of the Browns' ensuing drive, Joe Flacco threw an interception.

Unbelievably, the Browns got the ball back once more. But they were buried deep in their own territory and couldn't get into range for a chance to win the game.

And so the Browns started 0-1, as expected, just in a very different way than anticipated.

This might be important at the end of the season. The Browns' tank for a top NFL Draft quarterback prospect starts now.

But for Cleveland fans trying to cling to hope, this was particularly painful. They unexpectedly had Joe Burrow and the Bengals on the ropes, and they couldn't finish the job.

MORE NFL NEWS:

Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle