Bengals squeeze out 17-16 win over Browns to start the season on a high note

CLEVELAND — The Cincinnati Bengals pulled out a 17-16 victory over the Cleveland Browns in the 104th Battle of Ohio to start the season off on a high note.

Joe Burrow and company came out swinging on the first drive, taking up nearly half of the first quarter. Running back Chase Brown rushed into the end zone after six previous carries and a reception on the drive. Brown's 5-yard score marked the first time since 2015 that the Bengals had a touchdown on their first possession of the season.

The Browns then returned the favor, taking even more time off the clock and running into the second quarter on their scoring drive. After several penalties from the Bengals defense, running back Raheim Sanders found 1 yard for the end zone.

During Cincinnati's second drive, right guard Lucas Patrick limped off the field to the medical tent after an injury during Cincinnati's second drive of the game, with the Bengals saying his return was doubtful. Dalton Risner, whom the Bengals picked up in the preseason, took his place.

Burrow then found Noah Fant wide open in the end zone, giving Cincinnati the lead ahead of halftime. The touchdown marked Fant's first as a Bengal.

Cincinnati then held the Browns to a field goal heading into halftime.

At the start of the third quarter, Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson left the game and was evaluated for a concussion. He later returned to the game in the fourth quarter.

Browns quarterback Joe Flacco found wide receiver Cedric Tillman in the end zone, giving Cleveland the lead for the first time in the game. Six points is all Cleveland got out of the drive after kicker Andre Szmyt missed wide right on the extra point.

After the Browns got the lead, the Bengals were forced to punt after going three-and-out. Burrow attempted to find Ja'Marr Chase deep down the field, but Chase failed to reel in the pass. In the game's entirety, Chase only had two receptions for 26 yards.

The Bengals' defense — in their first season under new defensive coordinator Al Golden — then found its mojo in the second half, with safety Jordan Battle picking off Flacco as the veteran quarterback intended to hit Jerry Jeudy.

The Bengals attempted to capitalize on Battle's interception, but they settled for a go-ahead field goal from Evan McPherson. The Bengals were forced to punt again in the fourth quarter after Burrow couldn't connect with both Tee Higgins and Chase on second and third down.

On Cincinnati's next drive in the fourth quarter, Burrow was sacked three times in a row. Firstly, star pass rusher Myles Garrett found Burrow on the first down.

After Burrow called a timeout, Garrett found Burrow again for a loss of six yards. On third down, Isaiah McGuire sacked Burrow, who leaped out of the end zone to escape a safety.

In an attempt to take the lead late in the fourth quarter, Szmyt narrowly missed a field goal, keeping Cincinnati ahead.

After Cincinnati got stifled by the Browns' defense again, corner DJ Turner II secured the Bengals' second pick of the day, intercepting a pass bobbled by Browns tight end David Njoku.

Burrow — who finished the day 14-of-23 for 113 yards — ran the clock out as long as possible before the defense held Flacco and the Browns until the clock ran out.

After the win, which is Cincinnati's first season opener victory since 2021, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said they "had to get a win."

Burrow called the win a "confidence booster" for the team, but he said all facets of the offense weren't good enough.

"We stole one today, and we're going to have to get better," he said.

The Bengals host the Jacksonville Jaguars next Sunday for their home opener. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.