The Browns fell 21-14 to the Bengals on Sunday for their fifth-straight loss. They are now 1-6 on the season.
During the game, QB Deshaun Watson left with an Achilles injury and was ruled out for the remainder of the game. RB Nick Chubb, who made his return to the field after suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 2 of the 2023 season, scored the Browns' first touchdown of the game a few plays later.
Despite a strong performance in the first half from the Browns defense, the offense failed to find the end zone again until under 90 seconds remained in the game and the Bengals were able to create separation in the second half.
Here are some of the key moments from Sunday's loss.
Key Moments
Defense locks down Burrow and Co. early, but falters in second half
After the Bengals started the game with a score, the Browns defense held them to just 86 total yards in the first half.
The Bengals punted five times and turned the ball over on downs once as Burrow completed just eight of his 15 passing attempts. DT Shelby Harris and DE Za'Darius Smith each had a sack and DT Maurice Hurst II and DE Isaiah McGuire split a sack in the first half as the Browns pass rush kept QB Joe Burrow from having time to make plays downfield.
On the first drive of the second half, Burrow connected with WR Ja'Marr Chase for an 18-yard touchdown to extend the Bengals lead to eight points. CB Greg Newsome II covered Chase well, but the receiver made a nice move, turning toward the ball as it sailed into his arms in the end zone.
As the Browns offense continued to struggle, the Bengals defense picked up steam, scoring again before the end of the third quarter. After taking over at the 50-yard line, Burrow connected with Higgins on a pair of long completions, including a 25-yard touchdown to build on the Bengals' lead.
Check out photos of the Browns against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 7
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Cornerback Mike Ford Jr. (31) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) and Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) and Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) and Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Long snapper Rex Sunahara (50) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Cornerback Mike Ford Jr. (31) and Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Offense during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) and Linebacker Khaleke Hudson (39) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) and Cornerback Tony Brown II (38) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Cornerback Mike Ford Jr. (31) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Cornerback Mike Ford Jr. (31) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Offensive tackle Lorenzo Thompson (69) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
The team during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on October 20, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Nick Chubb scores in return to action, but offense struggles
It took nearly the entire first half, but the Browns found the end zone with just under a minute remaining in the second quarter. In his first game in over a year, Chubb found the end zone on a 1-yard run.
On the drive, Watson left the game with an Achilles injury and did not return. QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson took over for the remainder of the game until emergency QB Jameis Winston entered the game after Thompson-Robinson suffered a finger injury.
Besides their scoring drive, the Browns offense struggled to move the ball, punting a total of seven times on Sunday. While Thompson-Robinson led the final few plays of the touchdown drive, the second-year quarterback threw two interceptions and his longest drive was just 27 yards.
Thompson-Robinson's former high school teammate WR Cedric Tillman became his favorite target on Sunday, leading the Browns with nine receptions for 83 yards and a two-point conversion.
Winston led a 12-play drive capped off with a touchdown pass to TE David Njoku and a successful two-point try, but the Browns didn't recover the ensuing onside kick attempt.
Early special teams blunders result in halftime deficit
It took only 12 seconds for the Bengals to score, as WR Charlie Jones ran right through the Browns kickoff coverage for a 100-yard kick return touchdown to put the Browns at an early deficit. K Dustin HopkinsHopkins and CB Tony Brown II had a chance at stopping the speedy returner, but the Browns allowed their first kickoff return touchdown of the dynamic kickoff era.
The Browns' issues on special teams continued after the offense's second drive stalled in Cincinnati territory. After driving 32 yards, the Browns had to settle for a 49-yard field goal, which K Dustin Hopkins sailed wide left.
Even when the Browns did find the end zone, with just under a minute remaining in the second half, Hopkins missed the point after attempt to prevent the Browns from tying the game.
Key stats and facts
- TE Jordan Akins finished with four receptions for 42 yards, surpassing 2,000 career receiving yards
- TE David Njoku finished with 10 receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown, surpassing 300 career receptions
- CB Denzel Ward had his seventh consecutive game with a pass breakup, the first seven-game streak in his career
Game highlights
DE Za'Darius Smith accounted for one of the Browns' three first-half sacks of Burrow.
Chubb's touchdown was greeted with a roar from fans at Huntington Bank Field.
Thompson-Robinson showed his ability to move with the football, finishing with 44 rushing yards.
Scoring plays
14:48 1Q | CLE 0 CIN 7 | Charlie Jones returns kickoff 100 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
0:56 2Q | CLE 6 CIN 7 | Nick Chubb runs up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Dustin Hopkins point after attempt is NO GOOD.
7:56 3Q | CLE 6 CIN 14 | Joe Burrow pass to Ja'Marr Chase for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
1:30 3Q | CLE 6 CIN 21 | Joe Burrow pass to Tee Higgins for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
1:27 4Q | CLE 14 CIN 21 | Jameis Winston pass short to David Njoku for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Jameis Winston pass to Cedric Tillman is complete for TWO-POINT CONVERSION.
What it means
The Browns fall to 1-6 on the season and dropped their first of six division games.
What's next?
The Browns will host the Ravens next Sunday at Huntington Bank Field. The 4-2 Ravens play the Buccaneers on Monday night in Tampa Bay.
