NFL football is officially back, and I think we all can agree that it’s about time. The Browns start the 2025 season hosting our interstate rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals. Here at CST, we’ll detail the strengths and weaknesses of each team that stands between Cleveland and the Lombardi Trophy. This week, we’ll start with the Browns’ week one opponent: The Cincinnati Bengals.
The Bengals are a one-sided juggernaut with an offense dominant enough to mask a shaky defense. As usual, Cincinnati goes as far as All-Pro QB Joe Burrow takes them. While not having the athleticism of Lamar Jackson or the rocket arm of Josh Allen, Burrow’s pinpoint accuracy and high football IQ make him a top-tier QB. To make matters worse for the Cleveland secondary, they’ll have to contend with the two-headed monster of Ja’marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Stopping Ja’marr Chase or even slowing him down is a tall task for any cornerback. His resume and body of work speak for themselves. Last season, Chase won the elusive triple crown, where he led the league in receiving yards (1708), receiving touchdowns (17), and receptions (127). The former LSU Tigers’ elite acceleration and playmaking abilities, combined with the size and physicality of Tee Higgins, have given defenses fits over the years. If any CB has proven he can, at the very least, slow down Chase is Denzel Ward. In the five games where Chase is primarily covered by Ward, he has 32 receptions for 359 yards and three touchdowns, a far cry from his usual electric performances. For a secondary that’ll be without MJ Emerson for the season, Ward’s performance will be vital.
As far as the defensive side is concerned, the buck stops with Trey Hendrickson. Hendrickson, who had a league-high 17.5 sacks last season, has shown he is one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. Since joining Cincinnati in 2021, he has 57 total sacks, 3rd most in that time frame behind T.J Watt and our own Myles Garrett. As Dawand Jones looks to bounce back from a disappointing 2024 season, look for double-team blocks with Joel Bitonio to counteract Hendrickson’s pass rush. Outside of Trey Hendrickson, however, this defense doesn’t exactly strike fear in opponents. This was a unit that last season ranked in the bottom half of most team defensive stat categories. While they did draft Texas A&M edge rusher Shemar Stewart in this past draft, I don’t believe he’ll be an impact player this year, let alone week one.
Strengths:
- Arguably the best receiving corps in the NFL
- Underrated RB Chase Brown
- Improved O-Line
Weaknesses:
- Outside of Trey Hendrickson, the Defense doesn’t generate pressure
- The Entire Defense is below average at best
- HC play calling too pass heavy
Keys To The Game:
- Put Pressure on Burrow
- Establish The Run
I believe this game will be a lot closer than people think. I doubt Cleveland will be as bad as some “experts” think, and I think Cincy is in for a regress this season. Yes, they are a one-trick pony, but the issue is that they do that one trick better than any team in the NFL. As much as I like our offense, they’re outgunned when compared to Cincinnati’s firepower. Outside of Kansas City and Buffalo, there’s no team in the NFL that can go blow-for-blow with the Bengals’ offense. The last thing you want to do is get into a shootout with this team. If we can establish the run and limit the damage Burrow and Co. can do, we’ll pull off a week one upset.
Score Prediction
- CLE – 23
- Cin – 20
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