Cincinnati Bengals vs Cleveland Browns Preview and Prediction, Sunday, September, 7, 2025
The Cincinnati Bengals face the Cleveland Browns in Week One of the NFL season in an AFC North matchup. The Bengals missed the playoffs last season but have high expectations with all their stars in their primes. The Browns, meanwhile, were one of the worst teams in the NFL last season and are hoping to prove that last season was an oddity, with the struggles at quarterback letting them down. Last season, the Bengals took both games straight up and against the spread. Who will win this game? Check out our Bengals vs Browns prediction!
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Bengals hope offense carries them this season
The Bengals missed the playoffs last season despite having one of the game’s best offenses, averaging 27.8 points per game. Joe Burrow leads the offense and is one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL, while Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are the weapons outside. Last season, Burrown threw for 4,918 yards and 43 TD passes to set team records. Chase caught 127 passes for 1,708 yards with 17 TDs to receive the "Triple Crown". With Chase Brown emerging as the primary running back, the only question is the offensive line and who will protect Burrow, putting a lot of pressure on Orlando Brown to hold down the fort.
The offense was great, but the defense let them down, allowing 25.5 points per game. The hope is that the new defensive coordinator, Al Golden, brings stability, and that edge rusher Trey Hendrikson, who held out for most of the offseason for a new contract, can still be a high-impact player. Otherwise, the question is how the secondary holds up, and all eyes are on Daxton Hill and Cam Taylor-Britt to keep opponents from shredding them down the field.
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Browns hope Flacco brings stability to offense
The Browns had a league-worst offense last season, scoring only 15.2 points per game, and the quarterback issues were the primary reason for the lost season. To save them, the Browns are turning to Joe Flacco, a 40-year-old quarterback who led them to the playoffs two seasons back but is well past his prime. If Flacco goes down with an injury, Cleveland has rookies behind him in Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders because they traded away Kenny Pickett in training camp to the Raiders. The Browns are also hoping Jerome Ford can fill the void at running back left by Nick Chubb, who was their workhorse running back for years, and that a top pass catcher emerges after they traded Amari Cooper, making this season a big one for Jerry Jeudy.
The offense was awful, and the defense also unraveled, allowing 25.6 points per game. Myles Garrett is a Hall of Fame edge rusher, while Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome Jr. are lockdown corners but the rest of the defense is a mess. The hope is that Devin Bush and Jerome Baker can step up at the linebacker position and add stability up the middle.
Bengals vs. Browns Pick
Spread Pick for Bengals vs. Browns
- Bengals -5.5 (4 units)
The Bengals are significant favorites on the road, but they should be as the Browns have too many question marks, and they look to take over this one from the first quarter. The Bengals should drive down the field at will with Joe Burrow finding Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins open throughout the game while getting strong pass protection upfront. The Bengals should eliminate a Browns offense that averaged only 15.2 points per game last season, with Trey Hendrikson disrupting plays in the trenches while Daxton Hill breaks up passes and stalls drives. The Bengals should win the game and cover the spread in a dominant win on the road. Even though the Bengals are notoriously slow starters, the fact that they played their starters more in preseason, should help them get off to a better start.
Take the Bengals' money line as road Favorites.
Over/Under Pick for Bengals vs. Browns
- Over 47.5 (5 Units)
Both defenses were a mess last season, and until proven otherwise, the offenses look to take over and dominate from the opening kickoff. The Browns should constantly find the endzone against the Bengals, who allowed 25.5 points per game, with Joe Flacco finding open receivers down the field while Jerome Ford gashes the Bengals on the ground. The Bengals, who averaged 27.8 points per game, should run up the score against the Browns, who allowed 25.6 points per game last season, with Joe Burrow finding Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins open throughout the game while Chase Brown has plenty of explosive runs to keep drives going. The Over should cover in a high-scoring game with both offenses stepping up.
Take the Over on 47.5 runs.
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