ClutchPoints
The Cleveland Browns walked into Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season with optimism, only to leave Paycor Stadium haunted by missed chances and wasted dominance. Against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Browns did nearly everything right, except finish the job. For the Browns, a 17-16 loss that slipped away despite statistical superiority raises uncomfortable questions about who truly deserves the blame.
Cleveland dropped their 2025 season opener to the Bengals in heartbreaking fashion. The Browns dominated statistically, outgaining Cincinnati 327-141 in total yards and holding the ball for nearly 36 minutes. That said, several errors proved costly. Rookie kicker Andre Szmyt missed an extra point after a touchdown and later hooked a 36-yard field goal attempt that would have given the Browns the lead. Those lost points loomed large in a game decided by the slimmest of margins.
Quarterback Joe Flacco threw for 290 yards and a touchdown. However, his two interceptions helped swing momentum. Cincinnati’s defense stepped up when it mattered most, too. DJ Turner and Jordan Battle made game-changing picks in the second half. Despite the Bengals’ offensive struggles, Cleveland failed to capitalize in the closing moments. They started their final drive pinned at their own one-yard line. Head coach Kevin Stefanski admitted afterward that the missed kicks made the difference. This underscored how squandered opportunities and turnovers turned a dominant statistical performance into a bitter Week 1 loss.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss the Cleveland Browns personnel most to blame for close Week 1 loss to Bengals.
The most obvious culprit in this loss is Szmyt. The rookie kicker cost Cleveland four points in a game they lost by one. Missing an extra point can rattle a team. However, missing a 36-yard field goal with the game hanging in the balance is the kind of mistake that keeps coaches awake at night.
To be fair, this was Szmyt’s NFL debut. Rookie nerves often strike even the most talented specialists. Still, the NFL is a results business. Missed kicks in close games are magnified. If this continues, the Browns may be forced to look elsewhere for stability on special teams. For now, Szmyt owns a spotlight he never wanted.
If there was ever a chance for Jerome Ford to prove he could be a dependable option, this was it. With Quinshon Judkins sidelined, Ford had the opportunity to seize control of the running back rotation. Instead, he delivered just eight total yards on six uninspired carries. He failed to break first contact, showed no burst, and looked hesitant hitting the line of scrimmage.
Meanwhile, rookie Dylan Sampson seized his moment. Out-snapping Ford, 14 to 7, Sampson flashed versatility in the receiving game and gave Stefanski’s offense a spark. Ford may now be relegated to a backseat once Judkins returns. This was more than just a poor performance. It was a squandered...
