Could the Bengals Ugly Win Be the Start of a Beautiful Season?
The Cincinnati Bengals kicked off their 2025 campaign with a “stolen” victory over the Cleveland Browns, as described by quarterback Joe Burrow. Their 17-16 win in Week One was far from a masterpiece, specifically on the offensive side of the ball. Cincinnati’s offense choked, managing only seven yards in the second half, while Burrow had one of the least productive games of his NFL career, finishing with a meager 113 yards passing. On the contrary, the defense showed great improvement under the leadership of new defensive coordinator Al Golden. Although Cincinnati struggled through its season-opening game, its perseverance may have set the stage for a great season in Cincinnati by proving they can win in a way they haven’t before.
The game’s focal point was not on the usual firepower of the offense, but shifted to the defense. Throughout the offseason, the defense had been plagued by the narrative that it was the primary reason Cincinnati missed the 2024 playoffs. With the guidance of Al Golden, the defense showed incredible resilience. They forced two crucial second-half interceptions, with game-sealing picks from Jordan Battle and DJ Turner, and held the Browns scoreless on their final six drives. This performance, marked by timely turnovers and a “bend-don’t-break” mentality, proved that the defense has the potential to be a complementary force to the highly potent offense and a necessity for a championship-caliber team.
This “ugly” victory may have set the stage for how Cincinnati’s 2025 season could go. Great teams find a way to win even when they aren’t playing at their best caliber. This has been a rarity for the Bengals under head coach Zac Taylor, who has often seen his teams lose close games they should have won. By persevering through offensive struggles and relying on a clutch defensive performance, the Bengals demonstrated a new level of maturity and a winning mentality. The ability to secure a victory with all three phases contributing is something that fans have rarely seen from Cincinnati, and it is a significant step for the team with major Super Bowl aspirations.
Ultimately, this Week One win is a huge psychological boost. Starting the season 1-0, especially against a divisional opponent, gives Cincinnati a huge confidence boost and momentum heading into a tough stretch of its schedule. The Bengals now have the luxury of correcting their mistakes from a position of strength, rather than playing from behind in the AFC playoff race from the start. The defense has proven its worth, and now the pressure is on the offense to find its rhythm and create a formidable team on both sides of the ball before they host the Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday, September 14th, 2025.
