Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns Picks and Prediction, Sunday, September 7, 2025
AFC North rivals clash in the battle of Ohio, so pull up a chair and get ready for Week 1 NFL action with our Bengals vs. Browns predictions and team breakdowns. After a two-year hiatus, Cincinnati (9-8 SU, 10-7 ATS in 2024) is starving for a postseason return. Cleveland (3-14 SU, 4-13 ATS in 2024) is simply looking to get back on their feet after suffering their worst season since they went winless in 2017. These two are ready to get the season rolling and will do so with a 1:00 EST kickoff from Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland. If you need some more winners and want to start this football season off right, check out all of our Free NFL Picks.
High hopes have Bengals gearing for postseason return
In the wake of back-to-back playoff runs, one that included a trip to the Super Bowl, the Bengals put together back-to-back 9-8 SU seasons and couldn’t get out of third back in the AFC North.
Last season, the Bengals offense ranked sixth in the NFL with 27.8 points per game and were ninth with 365.5 total yards. They had the best passing attack in the game, averaging 272.9 yards per game through the air and they return one of the best triumvirates in the game, headed by Joe Burrow and flanked by Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Burrow had career highs with 4,918 passing yards and 43 touchdowns in 2024, and Chase had the 14th best receiving season in league history with 1,708 yards. Chase Brown will again lead the run game after picking up 990 yards and seven TDs on the ground as a second-year back last season. The line allowed 48 sacks in 2024 but added veteran RG Lucas Patrick to address things.
"Showing everyone the work you put in over the last eight months to make yourself better in front of the world, that's what sports are," said Burrow, via ESPN.com. "That's why we love them. And I'm excited to put on a show."
Last season’s defense allowed 25.5 points and 348.3 total yards per game. They made an effort in the draft to fix some of the holes on this end. The 17th pick in the draft, edge rusher Shermar Stewart, will have the benefit of learning behind two of the best in Joseph Ossai and Trey Hendrickson, who led the NFL with 17.5 sacks last season. Second round selection Demetrius Knight Jr. will look to fill the gap left by tackles leader Germaine Pratt, who went to Las Vegas. Logan Wilson, second on the team with 104 tackles last season, anchors the linebacker corps in the middle. The secondary sees four returning starters, which should go a very long way in improving the defense.
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Team notes
- Through Thursday’s practice, the Bengals had zero players on the injury report.
- The team signed C Ted Karras to a one-year contract extension through 2026.
- Burrow enters the season in fifth on the Bengals all-time passing yards list, 3,693 yards behind Carson Palmer in fourth.
Cleveland resets with familiar vet leading offense
Things were looking up following the Browns’ 11 wins in 2023, but the wheels came off immediately last season, their starting quarterback went down, and the losses continued to pile up
Four different players started at quarterback for the team last year and unsurprisingly, they were the lowest scoring team in the game, averaging 15.7 points per game. They logged only 300.8 yards per game with just 94.6 coming via the ground game. Jerome Ford, who led the team with 565 rushing yards last season, remains the top option in the backfield. One season removed from helping the Browns in that 11-win season, Joe Flacco is back under center with a pair of rookie QBs learning the game behind him. The 41-year-old is sure of one thing, with age comes experience. Top receiver Jerry Jeudy (90 catches, 1,229 yards) is the top returning skill piece while the line, which allowed 66 sacks last season, remains pretty much intact.
“I feel like mentally, you do become a better quarterback, a more experienced quarterback,” said Flacco, via AtoZSports.com. “You’re always learning something. So, if you can keep your physical attributes the same, or even just call those even, then yes, I think as the years go on, you gain knowledge and become better at the position.”
Last season’s defense yielded 342.1 total yards and 25.6 points per game. Mason Graham, the fifth overall pick in the draft, provides the team with much-needed bulk on the line. They may be forced to utilize that depth immediately with many players banged up on the defensive end, including Myles Garrett who was second in the league with 14 sacks last season. Linebacking depth is also thinner due to injuries, but starters Carson Schwesinger and Devin Bush are a go for the opener. It shouldn’t take much to improve on a defensive secondary that had only four interceptions. Corners Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome II, both former first rounders, need to leap forward this season.
Injury report (with Thursday practice availability)
- DE Myles Garrett (hip) DNP
- LB Mohamoud Diabate (quad) limited
- LB Easton Mascarenas-Arnold (Achilles) DNP
- DT Mike Hall Jr. (knee) limited
- CB Denzel Ward (shoulder) limited
- TE Blake Whiteheart (knee) limited
- OT Jack Conklin (rest) limited
Bengals vs. Browns Pick
Spread pick for Bengals vs. Browns
- Bengals -5.5 (5 units)
Last season, the Bengals swept the season series, 2-0 SU and ATS. Their defense was able to keep a bad Browns offense at bay, allowing an average of 10 points per game in those meetings and this time around could be similar. Cleveland has a completely new offense in place under first-year coordinator Tommy Rees. They are trying to break in two rookie QBs, hoping one becomes the heir apparent in the land where quarterbacks go to die. Cincinnati wants to set a tone for the season. They know they should be an AFC frontrunner, and they’ve been anything but over the last two seasons. Burrow is a bona fide leader and turning this team around will cement that. With Chase and Higgins back in place, I expect the Bengals QB to torch this Browns’ defense. The Browns were the second worst team in football against the spread last season. Cincinnati is 4-1 SU and ATS in its last five games against the Browns.
Take the Bengals giving the points.
Over/Under Pick for Bengals vs. Browns
- Under 47.5 (4 units)
In two meetings last season, the teams combined to average 32.5 points per game. The Cincinnati defense did a number on the Browns, holding them to 10 points per game and just six points when they last met in December. Cleveland didn’t do anything to improve their offense, though they aren’t worse either. They are going to have some growing pains along the way and Flacco doesn’t have much in the weapons bag to choose from. We know that his counterpart is loaded but if the Bengals catch a big lead, they might be able to rest some guys late. There’s no need to get too risky in week one, especially against a team you are going to see later in the season. The under is 5-1-1 in the last seven games between the two teams.
Take the under.
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