Browns falling to the Bengals in Week 1 came with a reason for Cleveland fans to be optimistic going forward

It was the Battle of Ohio to open the season for the Cleveland Browns, with the Cincinnati Bengals visiting in Week 1. After going 3-14 last year, the Browns are now 0-1 to start this season following a 17-16 home loss to Cincinnati. A missed 36-yard field goal and an extra point by Andre Szymt […]

Brandon Little — Ohio State Buckeyes & Cleveland Browns News Writer
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Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski (left) and Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor before a game at Huntington Bank Field. Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

It was the Battle of Ohio to open the season for the Cleveland Browns, with the Cincinnati Bengals visiting in Week 1. After going 3-14 last year, the Browns are now 0-1 to start this season following a 17-16 home loss to Cincinnati. A missed 36-yard field goal and an extra point by Andre Szymt proved to be the difference. Costly dropped passes — at least four in total, with two leading directly to interceptions — ultimately sealed the Browns’ fate.

Week 1 was a brutal way to lose for Cleveland, which outplayed Cincinnati for much of the game yet still came up short. Still, there are reasons for optimism moving forward.

Offensive rookies looked promising for the Browns in Week 1

Cleveland appears committed to running plenty of heavy 12 personnel this season, with Harold Fannin Jr. effectively serving as the team’s third wide receiver. In his NFL debut, Fannin played significant snaps alongside David Njoku and was a clear bright spot. The third-round pick showed his size, athleticism, and ability to create yards after the catch. The Browns even gave him a direct snap, which he turned into a three-yard run up the middle. Outside of a tough drop on third down early in the fourth quarter, Fannin put together a strong debut, finishing with seven receptions for 63 yards.

Fannin wasn’t the only rookie to shine. Former Tennessee Vol Dylan Sampson, a fourth-round pick, likely started in place of Quinshon Judkins, who wasn’t yet ready to play. Sampson flashed his skills as a pass catcher, hauling in eight receptions for 64 yards. While he and the offense struggled to get the ground game going, Sampson’s reliable hands and ability to work in space made him a clear asset.

The eventual return of Judkins should provide another boost, and undrafted rookie Isaiah Bond also contributed in Week 1 with one catch for five yards. Though he wasn’t heavily targeted, Bond saw a fair amount of snaps and could grow into a bigger role as the season goes on. On the offensive side alone, it looks like the Browns may have found multiple long-term contributors from this rookie class. That doesn’t even factor in defensive players like LB Carson Schwesinger, who also made an impact in his debut.

Week 1 was a game the Browns probably should have won. Missed kicks and dropped passes proved costly, and this team simply isn’t good enough yet to overcome those kinds of miscues. Cleveland forced no turnovers, missed two kicks, and gave the ball away twice themselves. That’s the recipe for losing — and exactly why they walked away from the Battle of Ohio at 0-1.

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