A pair of red zone turnovers and more costly penalties provided an unfortunate tale of business as usual as Cincy swept the 2024 ‘Battle of Ohio.’
In a season sullied by mistakes galore, it was business as usual for the Browns on Sunday.
Cleveland fell to 3-12 with a 24-6 loss to the Bengals at Paycor Stadium, giving Cincinnati a season sweep in the “Battle of Ohio” for the first time since 2017. Though no one could question the Browns’ effort in a gutsy performance, turnovers and penalties once again buried Kevin Stefanski’s squad, which has now clinched a last-place finish in the AFC North Division for the 15th time in 22 years.
The game was actually closer than the final score might indicate, but a pair of red zone giveaways highlighted Cleveland’s missed opportunities. Dorian Thompson-Robinson threw for 157 yards and ran for 49 more, but also tossed a pair of interceptions in his first start of the season under center.
Cincy gave itself a 17-0 halftime lead and held on from there, with Joe Burrow throwing for 252 yards and three touchdowns to Tee Higgins, Andrei Iosivas, and Ja’Marr Chase. Chase tallied 97 yards on six catches, while Chase Brown added 91 rushing yards on 18 carries.
The underdog Browns gave themselves some hope right out of the gate, when Jerome Ford raced 66 yards to the Cincinnati 11 on the first play from scrimmage. Five snaps later, D’Onta Foreman was ruled to have cross the plane into the end zone, but replay review showed he had fumbled before the goal line, with the ball being recovered by Vonn Bell.
The Bengals then marched 99 yards down the field, with the drive capped by Burrow’s 2-yard TD pass to Higgins that made it a 7-0 ballgame. Even with lots of football left to be played, it was undoubtedly a deflating moment for Cleveland.