Joe Flacco’s unfortunate admission around the Browns after losing to the Bengals is likely what will hold them back in 2025
The Cleveland Browns held the Cincinnati Bengals to just 141 total yards and still lost their season opener at home on Sunday afternoon. Despite outgaining Cincinnati with 327 yards, Cleveland fell 17-16. Joe Flacco made his return as the Browns’ quarterback, finishing 31-of-45 for 290 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. The turnovers, along […]
The Cleveland Browns held the Cincinnati Bengals to just 141 total yards and still lost their season opener at home on Sunday afternoon. Despite outgaining Cincinnati with 327 yards, Cleveland fell 17-16. Joe Flacco made his return as the Browns’ quarterback, finishing 31-of-45 for 290 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. The turnovers, along with two missed kicks, proved to be the difference.
Flacco’s interceptions weren’t entirely on him, even if the stat line says otherwise. In the second half, he hit Jerry Jeudy on a low but catchable pass that popped into the air as Jeudy went to the ground and was intercepted. Later, the Browns’ final legitimate chance to win ended when a pass went off Cedric Tillman’s hands and into the arms of Bengals cornerback DJ Turner.
Flacco admits what could hold the Browns back in 2025
“It felt like we did a lot of good things, but we also did a lot of things that get you beat,” Flacco said after the game. “I just felt like we kind of played like an inexperienced team a little bit today. We did so many good things; we were able to move the ball. But to ultimately come up short, it definitely hurts to feel like you could start the season 1-0 and not do that.”
An “inexperienced team” is exactly what the Browns looked like with their miscues. Still, their young players provided some of the brightest moments outside of Myles Garrett’s dominance. Rookie running back Dylan Sampson earned the start and, while the ground game never found traction, he made an impact with eight receptions for 64 yards. Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. also impressed with seven catches for 63 yards, though his tough third-down drop late in Bengals territory proved costly.
Veteran players make mistakes, too, but when they happen in crucial moments, it reinforces Flacco’s point about inexperience. Cleveland will soon get rookie running back Quinshon Judkins back, adding another young playmaker to the offense. Jeudy and David Njoku were both effective, though Jeudy’s drop was notable after leading the league in that category last season.
On defense, rookie linebacker Carson Schwesinger tallied eight tackles, while Mason Graham got the start at defensive tackle. With plenty of veterans in the mix, the Browns are still leaning heavily on what could be a loaded rookie class. Even undrafted receiver Isaiah Bond saw early snaps in Week 1.
At some point this season, the Browns may even evaluate rookie quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in live game action. Flacco’s assessment of his team as “inexperienced” seems spot on. The Browns are 0-1, and with so many young players in key roles, the ups and downs of their development were on full display in the loss to Cincinnati. Cleveland knows this year is about taking a step and building out their foundation around current cornerstones. An inexperienced team is indeed what the Browns are in some key areas of the roster.
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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 […]
