The Cincinnati Bengals lead the all-time series 55-48 and are looking for a fourth win in a row. Judging by the 2025 NFL odds for Week 1, they’re likely to succeed. Joe Burrow & Co are seen as one-touchdown favorites in the September 7 game.
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns Week 1 Odds
| Moneyline | Odds |
|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | +135 |
| Cleveland Browns | -155 |
| Spread | Odds |
|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals -5.5 | -116 |
| Cleveland Browns +5.5 | -104 |
| Points | Odds |
|---|---|
| Over 43 | -105 |
| Under 43 | -115 |
When, Where, and How to Watch?
- Place: Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Browns
- Date: Sunday, September 7, 2025
- Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: FOX
Reasons Why Cincinnati Bengals are Favored in Week 1
Some football fans think Joe Burrow is an inch away from becoming the best quarterback in the league. The 28-year-old is entering Week 1 in top shape, coming off an impressive season that saw him record a career-high 4,918 passing yards and 43 touchdowns, along with his highest passer rating to date, 108.5.
Burrow has some elite options on the receiving end, most notably Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. The only issue is that their offensive line – as it’s been the case for the past couple of years – seems very soft. Despite some offseason moves, their O-line is one of the worst in the NFL.
The trouble is that their next opponent is Cleveland, and teams with shaky O-lines usually get torn apart by the Browns’ front. In the most recent “Battle of Ohio” game, Burrow got sacked four times.
The reason the Bengals won that game 24:6 is that the Browns had Dorian Thompson-Robinson at quarterback, who got two of his passes intercepted. Fast-forward to September 7, and the Browns are much better in the QB department.
Cleveland Browns Ready for Battle
Deshaun Watson is sidelined, but Cleveland still has plenty of options under center. Between veteran Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, they have plenty of options to choose from. Whoever gets to lead the offense on September 7, the Browns should do fine in that department.
Their offense in 2025 is okay, but the real engine of this team is the defense. At the heart of it all is Myles Garrett, still the face of the franchise and one of the NFL’s premier defenders. Garrett has stacked up four First-Team All-Pro and six straight Pro Bowl selections.
The Browns doubled down on their pass rush in 2025. First-round pick Abdul Carter joins Myles Garrett to give the front seven even more bite, while free-agent signing Maliek Collins adds interior muscle.
This guy’s already ranked among the league’s top 10 defensive tackles in pass-rush win rate. On top of that, Julian Okwara slides in as a rotational edge with speed and veteran savvy, giving Cleveland a deeper, more dangerous unit.
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns Week 1 Prediction
We think the Bengals will win, but we’re not sure if they’re going to do it dominantly. In fact, we think this is going to be a low-scoring affair that will be decided by a field goal or so. That’s why our top pick is Browns +5.5.
Pick: Cleveland Browns +5.5