It wasn't easy, but the Cincinnati Bengals secured a 1-0 record to start the season and their first week 1 win since 2021. The Bengals walked into Cleveland to take on the Browns and escaped with a narrow 17-16 victory.
The Bengals' offense didn't light the world on fire, as evidenced by their 141 yards of total offense on 49 plays (2.9 yards per play). The defense did their part in bending but not breaking, as they allowed just 16 points on 327 yards allowed on 71 plays.
One player who stood out on the defensive side of the line of scrimmage was a rookie lineacker Demetrius Knight Jr.