Bengals–Browns rivalry

Bengals–Browns rivalry

Bengals and Browns face off during the 2019 season.
Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns
Location	Cincinnati, Cleveland
First meeting	October 11, 1970 Browns 30, Bengals 27
Latest meeting	December 22, 2024 Bengals 24, Browns 6
Next meeting	2025
Stadiums	Bengals: Paycor Stadium Browns: Huntington Bank Field
Statistics
Meetings total	103
All-time series	Bengals: 55–48
Largest victory	Bengals: 37–3 (2015) Browns: 34–0 (1987)
Longest win streak	Bengals: 7 (2014–2017) Browns: 7 (1992–1995)
Current win streak	Bengals: 3

100km
62miles

Browns

Bengals

  

Locations of the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns

The Bengals–Browns rivalry or Battle of Ohio is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns.

Both teams are members of the American Football Conference (AFC) North Division, and play two games against each other annually. The Bengals and Browns first played in 1970. Previously, the Bengals were a part of the American Football League (AFL). After the AFL–NFL merger the Bengals and Browns were placed in the AFC Central Division, where they remained until the Browns suspended operations after the 1995 season after moved to Baltimore, leading to the creation of the Baltimore Ravens. The Browns returned in 1999 via an expansion draft and were again placed in the AFC Central. When the NFL realigned divisions in 2002, both teams remained in the Central, which was renamed the AFC North division.

Geography and a shared heritage add to this rivalry. Cleveland (Northeast) and Cincinnati (Southwest) are on opposite corners of Ohio, and essentially split Ohio. Columbus serves as battleground territory for the rivalry, with the Browns dominating the fanbase North and East of the state capital. Dayton leans more towards the Bengals due to the close proximity between Dayton and Cincinnati, though the area does retain a strong following for the Browns. Southern Ohio leans more towards the Bengals, especially in the southeastern part of the state since the Bengals drafted Athens, Ohio native Joe Burrow, though the Upper Ohio Valley retains more of a lean towards the Browns. In most areas, the two teams also share with a fellow AFC North rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, in popularity, though the Browns and Bengals dominate Greater Cleveland and Greater Cincinnati, respectively.

Both teams have direct connections to Paul Brown, who was both the former Hall of Fame head coach and namesake of the Browns and as well the founder of the Bengals franchise in the AFL in 1967, 5 years after he was fired from the Browns. The colors of both teams are similar, with the main color being orange.

The Bengals lead the overall series, 55–48. The two teams have not met in the playoffs.

History

Early history

Paul Brown was the co-founder and inaugural head coach of the Cleveland Browns, a team named in his honor. He led the Browns to seven NFL championship games, winning in three of them. However, conflicts with team owner Art Modell resulted in his dismissal in 1963. Years later, Brown founded the Cincinnati Bengals and served as their inaugural head coach, maintaining ownership of the team until his death in 1991.

The Browns were founded in 1946 as a member of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC), and were named after their head coach, Paul Brown.

The Browns dominated the AAFC in its four years of existence, winning all four championships, and joined the NFL in 1950, playing in the next six NFL Championship Games for and winning three of them.

In 1963, Brown was fired by new team owner Art Modell, and subsequently went on to found the Bengals, who played their first AFL season in 1968. Two years later, after the AFL-NFL merger, both the Bengals and the Browns were placed in the AFC Central, and thus met twice every season: fueled by the hatred between Brown and Modell, a rivalry was born.

1970–79 The first meetings

In the first regular-season matchup between the two teams, the Browns beat the Bengals 30–27. It was an important win for the Browns, who were chastised for losing a preseason game to Cincinnati. Running backs Leroy Kelly and Bo Scott combined for 236 yards, and a fired up defense set the early tone when defensive tackle Walter Johnson sacked Bengals quarterback Virgil Carter for a safety. However, the Bengals got the last laugh that season, beating the Browns in their first meeting in Cincinnati, 14–10. This win helped propel the Bengals, who won their final seven games, to win the AFC Central by one game over the Browns.

Each team had limited success in the 1970s, with the Bengals making three playoff appearances and the Browns making two; this can be partially attributed to a fellow division rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, being the dominant team in the NFL during this time. Neither team won a playoff game in the decade. The teams split the 20 games during the 1970s, each winning 10.

1980–90 Playoff contenders

Both teams had several playoff runs throughout the 1980s.

The Bengals appeared in two Super Bowls during the decade (XVI and XXIII), losing both to the San Francisco 49ers. The Browns played in three AFC Championship games during the decade, but lost all of them to the Denver Broncos.

Prior to the 1980 season, the Bengals hired former Browns head coach Forrest Gregg. The Browns beat Gregg and the Bengals in both meetings that year, including a division-clinching 27–24 win in Cincinnati. In the season ending clinching game, Thom Darden used a forearm tackle to the face of Pat McInally. McInally was unconscious for about 10 minutes and left the field on a stretcher, but he returned in the second half to make three receptions for 86 yards, including a game-tying touchdown. The hit and McInally's recovery are a legendary part of the intrastate rivalry.

Because of the 1982 NFL players strike, the game in Cleveland that season was cancelled. The Bengals won the only meeting of the year in Cincinnati, 23–10: this marks the only season to date in which the Browns and Bengals did not meet twice.

On December 14, 1986, the Browns routed the Bengals 34–3 at Riverfront Stadium to clinch the AFC Central division title. The Browns and Bengals battled for the division title throughout the late 1980s, with the Browns winning the AFC Central title in 1986, 1987, and 1989; the Bengals won the division in 1988 and 1990.

On December 10, 1989, during a Bengals home game against the Seattle Seahawks, Bengals fans booed and threw snowballs and various other objects onto the field, at Seahawks players and officials, and at game officials in response to questionable calls. The Seahawks were deep in their own territory, and citing safety concerns, refused to continue play until the field was cleared. Bengals head coach Sam Wyche got on the stadium's public address system and told the fans: "Will the next person that sees anybody throw anything onto this field, point them out, and get them out of here. You don't live in Cleveland, you live in Cincinnati!"

Paul Brown owned the Bengals until his death in August 1991: at the time, his Bengals held a 22–19 record against his former team.

1991-95 Browns' dominance and move

Under head coach Bill Belichick, the Browns dominated the series during these years, going 8–2, including a seven-game winning streak from 1992 to 1995.

On September 4, 1994, the teams opened the season at Riverfront Stadium. The Browns won the game, 28–20, highlighted by an Eric Metcalf 94-yard punt return for a touchdown, a Browns franchise record. The game featured the first successful two-point conversion in NFL history, when Cleveland punter Tom Tupa ran into the end zone on a fake extra point attempt.

On October 29, 1995, the Browns defeated the Bengals 29–26 in overtime. Browns kicker Matt Stover kicked five field-goals for the Browns including the overtime game-winner.

On November 6, 1995, Modell announced his intention to relocate the Browns to Baltimore following the season: most of the team's sponsors pulled their support in response, leaving Cleveland Municipal Stadium devoid of advertising during the team's final weeks.

The Browns defeated the Bengals in the final game played at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, 26–10, in the Browns' only win following the announcement of the move.

1999–2010 Browns' return and struggles for both teams

The Browns returned to the NFL as an expansion franchise in 1999. Both teams struggled throughout the next decade. The Browns made a playoff appearance in 2002, while the Bengals made it to the playoffs in 2005 and 2009, although neither team won a playoff game during this time. Both teams had years in which they finished with the worst record in the NFL (the Browns in 1999 and the Bengals in 2002), and thus were awarded the top pick in the following year's draft.

On October 10, the teams met for the first time since the Browns' return. The Bengals won the game at the new Cleveland Browns Stadium, 18–17. Rookie quarterback Akili Smith led the Bengals on a 12-play touchdown drive in the final 2:04 to deny the Browns their first win. In that game, Browns kicker Phil Dawson scored a rushing touchdown on a fake field goal play. On December 12, the Bengals defeated the Browns 44–28 in the last game at Riverfront Stadium (at the time renamed Cinergy Field).

The Browns and Bengals opened Paul Brown Stadium on September 10, 2000, a 24–7 Browns' win.

On December 28, 2003 in Cincinnati, the Browns defeated the Bengals 22–14, to knock the Bengals out of playoff contention in the final regular season game.

On November 28, 2004 in Cincinnati, the Bengals defeated the Browns 58–48. The 106 combined points marked the second highest scoring game in NFL history (only behind a 1966 game in which the Washington Redskins defeated the New York Giants 72–41, a total of 113 points). The game saw Bengals running back Rudi Johnson rush for 202 yards and Browns QB Kelly Holcomb pass for 413 yards and five touchdowns. After that game, Browns' head coach Butch Davis resigned amid a long losing streak and disappointing 4–12 season.

The two teams were involved in another very high scoring game, on September 16, 2007, in Cleveland. This time, the Browns were on the winning end, 51–45. The 96 point total is the 11th-highest scoring total in NFL history. In this game, Browns quarterback Derek Anderson passed for 328 yards and 5 touchdowns, while running back Jamal Lewis rushed for 216 yards. On the other side, Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer passed for 401 yards and six touchdowns. Chad Johnson, who caught two of the touchdown passes, had 209 yards receiving.

The Bengals won the rematch that year, 19–14, in Cincinnati. The Browns entered that game at 9–5 and controlled their own playoff destiny. However, Anderson threw four interceptions in the game, leading to most of the Bengals' points. Despite winning their final game and finishing 10–6, the Browns missed the playoffs due to AFC tiebreakers.

On December 29, 2008, the Bengals defeated the Browns 14–0 in Cleveland. This win gave the Bengals a 36–35 lead in the overall series, a lead the Bengals have not yet relinquished.

The Bengals swept the Browns in the 2009 season, while also sweeping the rest of the AFC North en route to a division title. This is the Bengals' first division sweep in franchise history.

2011–2019 The Andy Dalton era

Battle of Ohio

In the 2011 NFL draft, the Bengals took wide receiver A. J. Green and quarterback Andy Dalton with their first two picks. Dalton made his first career start as a rookie in Cleveland, a 27–17 Bengals win, the first of many dominating performances. Dalton has an 11–4 record against the Browns, passing for 27 touchdowns – seven of which went to Green – against 11 interceptions.

One exception to Dalton's dominance in the rivalry occurred on November 6, 2014, where the Browns defeated the Bengals 24–3 in Cincinnati. Dalton posted a 2.0 quarterback rating, the worst game of his career.

The Bengals won seven meetings in a row from 2014 to 2017 by a combined score of 213–63. The Bengals scored at least 30 points in six of the seven games, while the Browns have scored 17 or fewer points in each game.

In 2018, the Browns fired head coach Hue Jackson; Jackson had a 3–36–1 record, including the Browns finishing 0–16 in 2017. Cincinnati hired Jackson as special assistant to head coach, Marvin Lewis, less than a month later.

In their first meeting of 2018, Browns rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield, making his eighth career start and his first start against the Bengals in week 12, passed for four touchdowns and led the Browns to a 35–20 win in Cincinnati. In his second career start against the Bengals, Mayfield continued his dominance by throwing for 284 yards and three touchdowns in a Browns 26–18 victory in week 16, and also taunted Jackson by staring him down along the sideline.

2020–present

The Browns dominated the early 2020s under head coach Kevin Stefanski, winning six of the seven meetings in the decade.

On October 25, 2020, Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield and Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow combined for an NFL record five go-ahead touchdown passes in the fourth quarter as the Browns won 37–34.

Season-by-season results

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns Season-by-Season Results
1970s (Tie, 10–10) Season Season series at Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns Overall series Notes 1970 Tie 1–1 Bengals 14–10 Browns 30–27 Tie 1–1 As a result of the AFL–NFL merge, the Bengals and Browns are placed in the AFC Central. Paul Brown, a co-founder and first coach of the Cleveland Browns, named in his honor, was fired and later became the co-founder and first coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. In Cleveland, Brown refused to shake Browns HC Blanton Collier's hand after the game. 1971 Browns 2–0 Browns 27–24 Browns 31–27 Browns 3–1 1972 Browns 2–0 Browns 27–24 Browns 27–6 Browns 5–1 1973 Tie, 1–1 Bengals 34–17 Browns 17–10 Browns 6–2 1974 Bengals 2–0 Bengals 33–7 Bengals 34–24 Browns 6–4 1975 Tie 1–1 Bengals 24–17 Browns 35–23 Browns 7–5 1976 Bengals 2–0 Bengals 21–6 Bengals 45–24 Tie 7–7 1977 Tie 1–1 Browns 13–3 Bengals 10–7 Tie 8–8 1978 Tie 1–1 Bengals 48–16 Browns 13–10 (OT) Tie 9–9 1979 Tie 1–1 Bengals 16–12 Browns 28–27 Tie 10–10
1980s (Bengals, 10–9) Season Season series at Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns Overall series Notes 1980 Browns 2–0 Browns 27–24 Browns 31–7 Browns 12–10 Bengals hire former Browns head coach Forrest Gregg. 1981 Tie 1–1 Browns 20–17 Bengals 41–21 Browns 13–11 Bengals lose Super Bowl XVI. 1982 Bengals 1–0 Bengals 23–10 canceled Browns 13–12 Due to the 1982 NFL player strike, the game scheduled in Cleveland was canceled. 1983 Tie, 1–1 Bengals 28–21 Browns 17–7 Browns 14–13 1984 Bengals 2–0 Bengals 12–9 Bengals 20–17(OT) Bengals 15–14 In Cincinnati, Browns' K Steve Cox kicked a 60–yard field goal, setting a franchise record for their longest field goal made. 1985 Tie 1–1 Bengals 27–10 Browns 24–6 Bengals 16–15 1986 Tie 1–1 Browns 34–3 Bengals 30–13 Bengals 17–16 1987 Browns 2–0 Browns 34–0 Browns 38–24 Browns 18–17 In Cincinnati, Browns record their largest victory over the Bengals with a 34–point differential. 1988 Tie 1–1 Bengals 24–17 Browns 23–16 Browns 19–18 Bengals lose Super Bowl XXIII. 1989 Bengals 2–0 Bengals 21–14 Bengals 21–0 Bengals 20–19
1990s (Browns, 8–6) Season Season series at Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns Overall series Notes 1990 Bengals 2–0 Bengals 21–14 Bengals 34–13 Bengals 22–19 1991 Tie 1–1 Bengals 23–21 Browns 14–13 Bengals 23–20 1992 Tie 1–1 Bengals 30–10 Browns 37–21 Bengals 24–21 1993 Browns 2–0 Browns 28–17 Browns 27–14 Bengals 24–23 1994 Browns 2–0 Browns 28–20 Browns 37–13 Browns 25–24 In Cincinnati, Browns' Eric Metcalf scored a 92-yard punt return touchdown, setting a franchise record for their longest punt return. 1995 Browns 2–0 Browns 29–26(OT) Browns 26–10 Browns 27–24 Last season until the 1999 season the Bengals faced the Browns, as they would controversially relocated to Baltimore and became the Baltimore Ravens. Game in Cleveland was the Browns’ final home game before the move. No games from 1996-1998 as the Browns suspended operations 1999 Bengals 2–0 Bengals 44–28 Bengals 18–17 Browns 27–26 Browns return to the NFL and open Cleveland Browns Stadium (now known as Huntington Bank Field). In Cleveland, rookie Bengals QB Akili Smith threw a game-winning touchdown pass with nine seconds remaining.
2000s (Bengals, 12–8) Season Season series at Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns Overall series Notes 2000 Tie 1–1 Browns 24–7 Bengals 12–3 Browns 28–27 Bengals open Paul Brown Stadium (now known as Paycor Stadium). 2001 Tie 1–1 Bengals 24–14 Browns 18–0 Browns 29–28 2002 Browns 2–0 Browns 27–20 Browns 20–7 Browns 31–28 2003 Tie 1–1 Browns 22–14 Bengals 21–14 Browns 32–29 Browns win eliminates the Bengals from playoff contention. 2004 Tie 1–1 Bengals 58–48 Browns 34–17 Browns 33–30 In Cincinnati, Bengals score their most points in a game against the Browns. Additionally, the game's final score is the second-highest-scoring game in NFL history (106 points). 2005 Bengals 2–0 Bengals 23–20 Bengals 27–13 Browns 33–32 2006 Bengals 2–0 Bengals 34–17 Bengals 30–0 Bengals 34–33 2007 Tie 1–1 Bengals 19–14 Browns 51–45 Bengals 35–34 In Cleveland, Browns score their most points in a game against the Bengals. Additionally, the game's final score was the eleventh-highest-scoring game in NFL history (96 points). Bengals' win prevented the Browns from clinching a playoff berth. 2008 Tie 1–1 Browns 20–12 Bengals 14–0 Bengals 36–35 2009 Bengals 2–0 Bengals 16–7 Bengals 23–20(OT) Bengals 38–35 Bengals win all of their division games for the first time in franchise history.
2010s (Bengals, 13–7) Season Season series at Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns Overall series Notes 2010 Tie 1–1 Bengals 19–17 Browns 23–20 Bengals 39–36 2011 Bengals 2–0 Bengals 23–20 Bengals 27–17 Bengals 41–36 In Cleveland, Bengals QB Andy Dalton makes his first career start. 2012 Tie 1–1 Bengals 34–27 Browns 34–24 Bengals 42–37 2013 Tie 1–1 Bengals 41–20 Browns 17–6 Bengals 43–38 In Cincinnati, Bengals scored 31 points in the second quarter, setting a franchise record for their most points in a quarter. 2014 Tie 1–1 Browns 24–3 Bengals 30–0 Bengals 44–39 2015 Bengals 2–0 Bengals 31–10 Bengals 37–3 Bengals 46–39 In Cleveland, Bengals record their largest victory over the Browns with a 34–point differential. 2016 Bengals 2–0 Bengals 31–17 Bengals 23–10 Bengals 48–39 2017 Bengals 2–0 Bengals 30–16 Bengals 31–7 Bengals 50–39 Browns complete the second 0–16 season in NFL history. 2018 Browns 2–0 Browns 35–20 Browns 26–18 Bengals 50–41 Bengals hire recently fired and former Browns head coach Hue Jackson as a special assistant to head coach Marvin Lewis. Brown sweep the Bengals for the first time since the 2002 season. 2019 Tie 1–1 Bengals 33–23 Browns 27–19 Bengals 51–42
2020s (Browns, 6–4) Season Season series at Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns Overall series Notes 2020 Browns 2–0 Browns 37–34 Browns 35–30 Bengals 51–44 In Cincinnati, both teams combined for five go-ahead touchdown passes, setting an NFL record. 2021 Browns 2–0 Browns 41–16 Browns 21–16 Bengals 51–46 Bengals lose Super Bowl LVI. 2022 Tie 1–1 Bengals 23–10 Browns 32–13 Bengals 52–47 2023 Tie 1–1 Bengals 31–14 Browns 24–3 Bengals 53–48 Jeff Driskel became the first quarterback to start for both teams. 2024 Bengals 2–0 Bengals 24–6 Bengals 21–14 Bengals 55–48
Summary of Results Season Season series at Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns Notes Regular Season Bengals 55–48 Bengals 34–18 Browns 30–21

See also

• National Football League rivalries
• AFC North
• Ohio Cup (Guardians–Reds)

References

• Recap, 2004 Bengals 58 Browns 48
• Bengals All-Time Results vs. Browns