Expectations are low for the Cleveland Browns in 2025, but a Week 1 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals is a favorable season opener

After a 3-14 campaign in 2024, you won't find too many people making bold predictions about the Cleveland Browns this season. Only the Browns can change the narratives out there about them. Getting off to a 1-0 start when the Cincinnati Bengals come to town in Week 1 would be a great start. 

That may seem far-fetched to most. The Bengals employ one of the best quarterbacks in football in Joe Burrow. He has the luxury of throwing to one of if not the best receiving corps in the NFL with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. 

Cincinnati's high octane offense will present a lofty challenge for Cleveland. The thing is, though, that hasn't been a problem in the past. Here are three reasons why the Browns will beat the Bengals in their season opener. 

1) Week 1 Weirdness

Week 1 of the NFL season is notoriously unpredictable because there is a "shaking off the rust" phase that goes on early on in a season. It can take time for many teams to figure out who they are and what they do best. No team has personified that more in recent years than the Bengals. 

Since Zac Taylor took over as head coach in 2019, Cincinnati has only won one season opener – a 27-24 overtime win over the Vikings in 2021. That also happens to be the only time under Taylor where the Bengals won three of its first four games, which coincided with their run to the Super Bowl. 

Beyond that, the Bengals have gone 5-14-1 across the first four weeks of the season during Taylor's tenure. That includes back-to-back 1-3 starts to the season in each of the last two seasons. At this point it's just part of who they are as a team, so why should anyone expect anything different in 2025?

2) Burrow's Kryptonite

Another thing that's been apparent about the Bengals over the years is that the Browns and, more specifically, Myles Garrett have been a an Achilles heal for Burrow. 

In five seasons, the former No. 1 overall pick is 3-5 against Cleveland with two of those wins coming during the Browns disastrous 2024 campaign. He's posted the seventh worst completion percentage of his career (64.6%) and his sixth worst QB rating (93.0). He's also been sacked a career-high 27 times by Garrett and company over the years.

Don't get it twisted, Burrow is one of the best quarterbacks in football. But his matchups with the Browns have come with plenty of inconsistencies. With Cleveland assembling what may just be its best defensive line under head coach Kevin Stefanski, its poised to make life hard for Burrow in Week 1. 

3) Not Losing Sleep

As electric as the Bengals offense is under Burrow's command, their defense leaves a lot to be desired. Last season, Cincy's defense ranked 25th in points per game allowed (25.5), surrendered the 12th most passing yards through the air (3,800) and the 4th most passing touchdowns (30). 

Meanwhile, during the preseason, the Bengals starting defense was getting gashed for 10.8 ypc across two appearances, including a matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles backups. Trey Hendrickson was obviously absent from those games, but he doesn't solve all those problems.

Of course, tweaks were made on that side of the ball this offseason. 2023 draft picks Jordan Battle and DJ Turner II are now starting at safety and corner respectively. Plus the team bolstered its pass rush by selecting Shemar Stewart in the first round this year. 

Is any of that enough to instill confidence in the unit as a whole? Probably not. There is a lot to It can be exploited, even by a 40-year-old Joe Flacco.