The AFC North should be one of the most competitive divisions in football this season. This division kicks off with the Cincinnati Bengals taking on the Cleveland Browns. Here are the storylines, picks, and best bets for Bengals vs. Browns.
Bengals vs. Browns: Game Information
Browns name Joe Flacco as starting quarterback. pic.twitter.com/uohdSwfif5
— NFL (@NFL) August 18, 2025
- 🏈 Game: Bengals vs. Browns
- 📅 Date: Sunday – Sept. 7, 2025
- 🕗 Time: 1 p.m. ET
- 🏟 Location: Huntington Bank Field — Cleveland, Ohio
- 📺 TV Channel: Fox
- 💻 Live Stream: Fox One
Top Storyline: Trey Hendrickson Will Be On The Field For The Bengals
We have agreed to a revised contract with Trey Hendrickson. pic.twitter.com/snh3M4nkc5
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) August 25, 2025
After a tumultuous offseason of tense negotiations and public criticism, the Bengals and Trey Hendrickson finally agreed on a revised contract.
Hendrickson’s new deal for the 2025 season takes his salary from $14 million to $30 million, making him the sixth-highest-paid edge rusher this season.
The new contract includes a $1 million incentive if Hendrickson is on the field for 60% of the plays and the Bengals make the playoffs.
Hendrickson will become an unrestricted free agent after the 2025 season.
For now, the contract dispute between Hendrickson and the Bengals is over. The NFL’s reigning sack leader (17.5 in 2024) receives a well-deserved raise, while the Bengals get their best defensive player back on the field.
Bengals vs. Browns: Picks and Best Bets
Bengals -5.5 (-105)
This game is a battle of two teams that hate playing in Week 1.
Under Zac Taylor, the Bengals are one of the worst teams at the beginning of the season. The Bengals are 1-11 in the first two weeks of the season.
You might say to yourself, “Well, Joe Burrow must have been out.” Wrong. Burrow is 1-4 SU and ATS in Week 1.
Last season, the Patriots went into Cincinnati and won as eight-point underdogs.
The Browns are also notoriously bad in Week 1. Cleveland has won two Week 1 games since 2005.
Something has to give.
The Bengals have the firepower on offense with Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Chase Brown.
The defense couldn’t stop a nosebleed in 2024 (25.5 points per game, 7th most in the NFL), but Hendrickson in the lineup changes the trajectory of this team.
Are you betting on Joe Flacco to cover for Cleveland? Don’t be surprised if the Browns take a first-half lead against the Bengals. In the end, Cleveland does not have enough weapons on offense to keep up with Cincinnati.
Tee Higgins Anytime TD (+125)
Chase remains the straw that stirs the drink for the Bengals’ offense. However, Higgins might hold the key to its success.
Higgins is arguably the best No. 2 wide receiver in the NFL. Only five players had more receiving touchdowns than Higgins (10) in 2024. One of those players was Chase.
If Chase draws double teams against Cleveland, Higgins has the size — 6-foot-4 — and speed to take advantage of his 1-on-1 matchup.
Higgins scored touchdowns in both 2024 games against the Browns. The trend of scoring against Cleveland continues in Week 1.
