An interception during the potential game-winning drive sealed the Browns' fate in their season opener.
The Browns fell to the Bengals, 17-16, at Huntington Bank Field on Sunday in Cleveland. The Browns were within one score for the entire game and held the lead at one point but couldn't break through during the fourth quarter to win the game.
QB Joe Flacco finished the game with 290 passing yards, a passing touchdown and two interceptions. DE Myles Garrett had sacks on back-to-back plays to give the Browns' life in the fourth quarter.
Key Moments
Browns' Last Heave
With 1:50 left in the game, the Browns got the ball at their own 33-yard line. On the first play, Flacco and TE David Njoku connected for a 9-yard gain. On the second play, Flacco's pass to WR Cedric Tillman bounced off his hands into the arms of Bengals CB DJ Turner II for an interception.
The Browns had a chance to take the lead earlier in the quarter but came away from a productive drive with nothing when K Andre Szmyt missed a 36-yard field goal attempt with 2:25 to play. Szymt connected on a 45-yard field goal, the first of his career, in the first half, but missed an extra point following Tillman's go-ahead touchdown catch midway through the third quarter.
The Browns managed to force a Cincinnati three-and-out and get the ball back with 19 seconds but it was too little, too late. An incomplete pass, a six-yard WR Jamari Thrash gain and a 25-yard pass to WR Jerry Jeudy and the game was over.
Defensive Lockdown
The Browns defense influenced the Bengals passing game, slowing down QB Joe Burrow and WR Ja'Marr Chase. Cleveland limited Burrow to 113 passing yards on a 60.6 completion percentage. Chase and WR Tee Higgins were held to five catches combined with 26 and 33 yards through the air, respectively.
Cornerbacks Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome II had three passes defensed combined. On two third-down attempts in the third and fourth quarter, respectively, Burrow looked to find Chase down the sideline. Newsome, however, forced Chase out of bounds and rendered him unable to make the catch.
On third down with 2:55 left in the third quarter, LB Carson Schwesinger laid the boom on Bengals RB Chase Brown, forcing an incompletion. The Bengals opted to kick a field goal on fourth down to put the Bengals up one point.
During the fourth quarter, with the Bengals pinned deep in their own territory, the Browns defensive line put pressure on Burrow.
Garrett penetrated the pocket on first and second down, getting his first and second sacks of the season. DE Isaiah McGuire sacked Burrow on third down, giving the Browns the ball back with just less than 7 minutes remaining.
Rookie Debuts
The Browns rookies showcased their skills in the season opener on both sides of the ball. RB Dylan Sampson led the team in rushing yards and receptions with 29 yards on the ground and 64 through the air on eight catches. TE Harold Fannin Jr. behind Sampson with 63 receiving yards on seven catches. RB Raheim Sanders punched in the Browns first touchdown of the game, a 1-yard score.
Defensively, Schwesinger led Cleveland in tackles with eight while first-round pick DT Mason Graham had three.
Game Highlights
Myles Garrett takes down Joe Burrow and forces the Bengals to punt the ball
David Njoku brings along multiple defenders en route to a 17-yard reception
Joe Flacco and Jerry Jeudy connect for a 19-yard gain
Andre Szmyt's first career NFL field goal trims Bengals lead down to four points
Harold Fannin Jr. makes an 18-yard catch
Joe Flacco and Cedric Tillman connect for a 5-yard touchdown to give the Browns their first lead of the game
Scoring Plays
CIN 7, CLE 0 | Chase Brown 5-yard touchdown run | 7:32 1Q
CIN 7, CLE 7 | Raheim Sanders 1-yard touchdown run – 12:42 2Q
CIN 14, CLE 7 | Joe Burrow 1-yard touchdown pass to Noah Fant | 4:18 2Q
CIN 14, CLE 10 | Andre Szmyt makes 45-yard field goal | 0:23 2Q
CIN 14, CLE 16 | Joe Flacco 5-yard touchdown pass to Cedric Tillman (Andre Szmyt missed extra point) | 7:20 3Q
CIN 17, CLE 16 | Evan McPherson makes 35-yard field goal | 2:48 3Q
What's Next
The Browns have another divisional matchup against the Ravens on Sept. 14 at 1 p.m. in Baltimore.
