CINCINNATI — In a moment of relief for the Cincinnati Bengals, the team celebrated a kickoff return for a touchdown after a four-season drought, along with quarterback Joe Burrow achieving his first victory against the Cleveland Browns. However, the victory came with its own set of challenges.
Charlie Jones ignited the game with a 100-yard kickoff return, which marked the Bengals’ only points in the first half. During those opening two quarters, Cincinnati struggled offensively, resulting in five punts and a turnover on their other drives. Despite their slow start becoming a concerning trend, the Bengals (3-4) managed to secure a narrow 21-14 victory over the Browns. The win was especially significant as Cleveland’s quarterback, Deshaun Watson, was sidelined for the season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Burrow played a pivotal role, throwing touchdown passes to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in the third quarter, which helped the Bengals earn their third win in four games following a challenging start to the season. This game also marked Cincinnati’s first road victory in the series since 2017. Burrow ended the game with 181 yards, completing 15 of 25 passes while facing substantial pressure from the Browns’ defense; he was sacked three times but notably did not fall victim to Myles Garrett, a frequent threat.
“Our defense really stepped up the last two weeks,” Burrow noted. “A big special teams touchdown…it’s nice to see that other units are picking up the slack where others aren’t. And that’s what football is all about. We found ways to win the last two weeks.”
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor emphasized the importance of securing wins regardless of how they come. “We’ll take them how we can get them,” he expressed.
The Bengals’ defensive line returned to full strength after managing some injuries early in the season. The defensive unit continued to impress, achieving four sacks along with two interceptions. They forced Cleveland to punt four times in the first half and three times in the second, showing a marked improvement. Defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins celebrated his first sack of the season.
Despite the defensive success, the offensive unit needs to make significant improvements, especially in the early stages of the game to compete with stronger teams. The Bengals are struggling to replicate last week’s performances; they went 0 for 6 on third-down attempts in the first half and were limited to just 86 yards. The running game, too, remains an issue, with Chase Brown and Zack Moss managing only 51 yards on 21 carries.
In terms of standout performances, Jones delivered the longest kickoff return of the season, representing the third touchdown return since the new kickoff rules were implemented. Defensive end Trey Hendrickson shone with two sacks and five quarterback hits, while Sam Hubbard contributed by recording a sack, some quarterback hurries, and even an interception.
Conversely, running back Moss’s performance was at a low point, gaining just 7 yards on six carries for an average of 1.2 yards. Additionally, kicker Evan McPherson has encountered troubles, missing field goals in two of his last three encounters.
On the injury front, Orlando Brown Jr., recognized as Cincinnati’s best offensive lineman, exited the match during the second quarter due to an injury to his right knee. Safety Geno Stone was also carted off after a severe collision with Vonn Bell, leaving him with an air cast on his left leg. Fortunately, Taylor indicated that the injuries might not be as severe as they appeared.
A key statistic from the game was the Bengals’ third-down conversion rate, which stood at 2 for 13.
Looking ahead, the Bengals will need to enhance their offensive momentum and rushing game to prepare for the challenge posed by Saquon Barkley and the visiting Philadelphia Eagles (4-2) in their next matchup.