Browns win over Bengals In Opener 24-3

In the span of less than 30 hours, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow experienced one of the greatest highs and the biggest lows the NFL can provide.

One day after signing his record-breaking contract extension, Burrow threw for a career-low 82 yards in a 24-3 loss to the Cleveland Browns. He completed 14 of 31 passes for no touchdowns and no interceptions.

Before Sunday, his lowest yardage total was 148 yards in a Week 11 win against the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021.

"Obviously, not up to our standard, not up to my standard," Burrow said after the game.

"The story of the day is our defense," Stefanski said. "And I just gave Coach (Jim) Schwartz the game ball because that defense was outstanding. To hold that offense – and I have a ton of respect for that team and that offense and that whole team in general – but to hold them to 143 yards, two of 15 on third down was very impressive. So very proud of Jim and his staff, the defensive staff and the players."

There was a noticeable increased level of aggression up front on the defensive line, and more man coverage on the back end. In the first half, they forced the Bengals to punt seven times on seven possessions, five of which were three and outs. They kept the Bengals scoreless in the first half, and only gave up a field goal in the third quarter.

Evan McPherson cut the lead to 10-3 on the Bengals' first series of the second half with a 42-yard field goal and safety Dax Hill's first NFL interception on Watson's roll-out pass gave them a shot to tie the game with the ball at the 50. With the Browns bringing the heat, Burrow and wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase converted a third-and-two, but three plays later the offense faced a third-and-four from the Browns' 33 and a deep ball to Higgins down the right sideline was knocked away by safety Grant Delpit.

Those elves stood tall Sunday, shrinking the Bengals down to 142 yards of offense.

A clearly dismayed Chase didn't let his squad's three-point showing dissuade him from piling on the elf talk, though.

"It's frustrating because I called they ass elves and we just lost to some elves," said Chase of the Browns, who have a mascot named Brownie the Elf. "So I'm pissed on my part, I'm pissed on that end.

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 Sarah H

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