Andre Szmyt missed an extra point and a field goal in Cleveland Browns Frustrating 17-16 loss to Cincinnati Bengals

Death, taxes and the Cleveland Browns losing because of kicking deficiencies. It happened again in Sunday's 17-16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. This time it was Andre Szmyt, making his first regular season start in the NFL after making the 53-man roster over veteran Dustin Hopkins. 

Szmyt missed two kicks in the Week 1 loss, that could have potentially changed the outcome in Cleveland's favor. First came a wide right extra point in the third quarter after Joe Flacco found Cedric Tillman streaking across the back of the end zone for a touchdown to give the Browns their first lead of the game 16-14, but the miss kept Cincy within two points, a deficit they erased one series later with a field goal of their own to take a 17-16 lead. 

As fate would have it, the former UFL kicker found himself with a chance at redemption as he lined up for a potential game-winning kick with 2:25 remaining in regulation. That attempt also went wide right. 

"I rushed my approach and pushed the ball," Szmyt explained after the game." I got to do better and I expect better out of myself. Just try and forget about it and move onto the next week." 

It will be hard for Browns fans to forget Szmyt's two brutal misses though. They've been torched by a long history of failed kicking experiments. It's a list that includes the likes of Zane Gonzalez, Greg Joseph, Austin Seibert, Chase McLaughlin and Cade York, to name a few. 

Hopkins recently joined that list two, even after signing a three-year extension with the Browns ahead of the last season, following a brilliant 2023 campaign where he went eight-for-eight on 50-yard plus attempts. 

He regressed in 2024, then carried those inconsistencies into the preseason this year and Cleveland's brass had seen enough. They thought Szmyt would be the solution after a strong training camp. In Week 1, however, he was just a continuation of the problem. 

Cleveland Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski Meets with the Media After Crushing Loss to Bengals Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski meets with the media after the Browns' loss to the Bengals. The Browns did everything they could to win the footb...

"I’m not there, on those type of things," head coach Kevin Stefanski said when asked whether or not they'll look to add some competition at the position before Week 2. "Points are at premium obviously, so that’s frustrating. Andre’s had a really good camp. He’s done a nice job for us. So I’m not there." 

The response sent and ominous message about Szmyt's future. His teammates, however, were ready to pick him up after a disappointing Browns debut.  

"We take that loss as a team," veteran guard Joel Bitonio said after the game. "I remember how nervous I was, I still get nervous for the first game of a season, so I understand the nerves. I think he'll bounce back. He has the right mindset. Hopefully a good week next week will get him back in the flow." 

Star wideout Jerry Jeudy echoed those comments as well. 

"It happened," he asserted. "I dropped a pass. You just gotta focus on the next play, next drive, next game." 

Szmyt will attempt to do just that as he turns the page and looks ahead to another pivotal division showdown with the Baltimore Ravens next week. One game certainly doesn't have to define his his career, but in Cleveland, there's been a tendency for one bad kicking performances to spiral into multiple.

"Watch the film, and see what went wrong," he said of attempting to bounce back in Week 2. "That's kind of what it felt like. Forget about it and give yourself 24 hours, analyze what happened and move on." 

The 27-year-old looks to avoid the same ill-fated ending as so many kickers who came before him.