Inside the Bengals locker room, LB Logan Wilson said they have talked about needing to start the year with a win after losing the first game of the season in their previous three seasons.
At 1 p.m. on Sept. 7 at Huntington Bank Field, the Bengals will have their shot. Against a divisional opponent like the Browns, they emphasized the importance of not only winning this game to start the season 1-0, but to also have a leg up in the AFC North.
"I mean it can't get much bigger for a week one game for us with how we want to start. Going up to Cleveland, get a divisional win," Wilson said. "Be 1-0 in the division, be 1-0 on the season. So, that's our mindset going forward. We've done things in order to make ourselves start fast but it is on us to go out there and execute come Sunday."
The problems that Cleveland's offense presents are multifaceted, according to Wilson and DE Joseph Ossai. First and foremost, the Bengals' defense and first-year defensive coordinator Al Golden faces the challenge of putting 18-year veteran QB Joe Flacco off his game.
The Bengals lauded Flacco, including QB Joe Burrow who said that Flacco has one of the strongest arms of all-time. CB Cam Taylor-Britt said the key to stopping Flacco is forcing him to throw interceptions and make mistakes. Wilson chalked it up to the defense and Golden being able to throw in defensive disguises to puzzle Flacco pre- and post-snap, forcing him to make mistakes.
"Yeah, he's still got it. I don't know what year it is for him but he's still a good quarterback," Wilson said on Sept. 1. "He's seen pretty much every coverage you can throw at him, so it's on us to be good with pre-snap and post-snap disguises. We know what it takes to go up there and win and it's on us to do that."
On the ground, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said the consistency the Browns have on the offensive line has helped foster a successful run game. On the Browns' depth chart, all five offensive linemen have been on the team since 2023. This familiarity leads to better communication and timing in the trenches with one another to know each other's tendencies. For RB Jerome Ford, the offensive line's chemistry allows him to know how they will react on certain plays, and which lanes will be open. Taylor said that continuity begins with head coach Kevin Stefanski, who has his finger on the pulse of the offense at all times.
Ossai added that the key to winning on Sept. 7 was to stop the Browns' run game, citing the two wins Cincinnati had against Cleveland last season. In the two team's first matchup in 2024, the Bengals held Cleveland to 72 rushing yards and won the game. In the second matchup, the Browns had more success running the ball but couldn't use it to find the end zone.
"Everybody wants to run on us and historically they're really good at running the ball," Ossai said. "I think the last two games (against the Browns), what we were able to do, I think we were able to collectively stop the run."
Browse photos of the Cleveland Browns practicing at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus as they prepare for their Week 1 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Punter Corey Bojorquez (13) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Offensive lineman Cole Strange (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Offensive lineman Garrett Dellinger (52) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Defensive lineman Adin Huntington (98) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Running back Trayveon Williams (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Wide receiver DeAndre Carter (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Wide receiver Malachi Corley (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) and Bill Willis Diversity Fellow Michael Bearden during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Wide receiver Malachi Corley (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Running back Raheim Sanders (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Safety Rayshawn Jenkins (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Defensive back Jarrick Bernard-Converse (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Tight end Brenden Bates (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Running back Ahmani Marshall (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Safety Rayshawn Jenkins (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Center Luke Wypler (56) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Safety Rayshawn Jenkins (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) and Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Center Ethan Pocic (55) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Running back Raheim Sanders (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Running back Raheim Sanders (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Running back Trayveon Williams (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Running back Raheim Sanders (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Safety Rayshawn Jenkins (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Wide receiver DeAndre Carter (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Wide receiver Malachi Corley (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Offensive tackle KT Leveston (72) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Offensive lineman Cole Strange (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2025.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Running back Raheim Sanders (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Running back Ahmani Marshall (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2025.
Safety Damontae Kazee (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2025.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Running back Trayveon Williams (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Running back Ahmani Marshall (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Wide receiver Malachi Corley (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Safety Christopher Edmonds (41) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Cornerback LaMareon James (27) and Defensive Line Coach Jacques Cesaire during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Safety Rayshawn Jenkins (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Defensive lineman Adin Huntington (98) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2025.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Tight end Brenden Bates (82) and Tight end Sal Cannella (87) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (71) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Safety Christopher Edmonds (41) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2025.
Linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2025.
Linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Defensive lineman Adin Huntington (98) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Running back Trayveon Williams (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2025.
Running back Trayveon Williams (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2025.
Linebacker Jerome Baker (17) and Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Andrew Berry during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 3, 2025.
Kicker Andre Szmyt (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2025.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2025.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2025.
Defensive end Sam Kamara (92) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2025.
Defensive lineman Adin Huntington (98) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2025.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) and Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2025.
Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Dale Jones during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2025.
For Burrow, winning the game comes down to stopping, or limiting the impact, of DE Myles Garrett. Burrow said Garrett can win the game for the Browns if the Bengals let him do so and he's someone they are game planning their offense around.
"You have to be aware of where he's at, at all times with protection IDs and also know where your quick answer is in whatever concept that you have called, because sometimes he's back there before you can catch the ball basically and you have to get it out," Burrow said. "We play great rushers a lot and he's one of the best, if not the best."
TE Mike Gesicki will be a part of Cincinnati's solution to try and lessen Garrett's impact, playing beside the tackles in some formations. Gesicki said the Bengals' offense must gameplan for more than just Garrett. He highlighted the talent across the three levels of their defense, saying there's plenty that the Browns can throw at the Bengals with Garrett, CB Denzel Ward and S Grant Delpit on defense.
Taylor echoed what Gesicki said about the Browns' defense. He praised Ward, saying both Garrett and Ward are at the top of their respective positions and can impact the game in multiple ways.
"They play with a lot of energy, a lot of disruption, and they can make things difficult for you, and we've seen them as much as we've seen any team," Taylor said. "Obviously, we have a lot of respect for them and it's going to take everything we have to put together a winning game plan and go execute it."
For the Bengals and Burrow, not only do they have to deal with players like Garrett and Ward, but they're also dealing with Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. In an attack-first defense, the Browns are looking to get after the quarterback and ball carrier, and Schwartz is scheming up different looks to be able to do that.
Since Schwartz joined the Browns in 2023, Burrow has seen a Schwartz-led defense four times. Burrow said that as a quarterback, it's hard to know what the coverage is pre-snap, forcing him to react to it post-snap. With a pass-rusher like Garrett on the other side of the ball, that makes it difficult to diagnose the defense post-snap before getting hit.
"(Merging your coverages), that's kind of the flavor of the league, that's what everybody is trying to do now. (Schwartz) has his own unique way of doing it," Burrow said. "I think their corners are some of the best in the league. It's always really hard when we go against them. Then, their defensive line is really disruptive, led by (Myles Garrett) but they have other guys who can get after you too."
With a divisional battle in Week 1, the Bengals want to get a win in their first game for the first time since 2021 and get a hand up in the AFC North.
"I like where we're at and now we just have to go out there and get it done," Taylor said.
