Charlie Jones took the game’s opening kickoff 100 yards to the end zone and the Cincinnati Bengals never looked back, picking up a 21-14 win over the host Cleveland Browns on Sunday afternoon.
Cleveland (1-6) entered the contest on a four-game losing streak but had reason to be optimistic, as star running back Nick Chubb was active for the first time since sustaining a season-ending knee injury in Week 2 of last season.
However, things quickly took a turn for the worse for the Browns, who watched quarterback Deshaun Watson get carted off the field with 1:22 left in the second quarter because of a non-contact Achilles injury.
Watson, who was visibly emotional as he was taken off the field, completed 15 of 17 passes for 128 yards prior to exiting. Dorian Thompson-Robinson took over under center and totaled 82 yards and two picks on 11-for-24 passing.
Joe Burrow hit on 15 of 25 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns as Cincinnati (3-4) won for the third time in four games. Tee Higgins hauled in four receptions for 82 yards and a score.
Chubb, who had 22 yards on 11 carries, rushed for a 1-yard TD with 56 seconds left in the second quarter, but Dustin Hopkins missed the ensuing extra-point attempt to prevent Cleveland from tying the game at 7.
The Bengals proceeded to run away with the game in the third quarter thanks to Burrow.
Ja’Marr Chase grabbed an 18-yard touchdown to give Cincinnati a 14-6 lead with 7:56 to go in the frame before Higgins was on the receiving end of a 25-yard scoring strike with 1:30 remaining.
The Bengals’ defense forced a turnover on downs to set up Chase’s TD.
Playing in relief of Thompson-Robinson, Jameis Winston found David Njoku for an 8-yard touchdown with 1:27 left in the game. Winston also completed a two-point conversion pass, but Cleveland couldn’t recover an onside kick on the following play.
Njoku had 10 catches for 76 yards and the score.
After the early fireworks from Jones, Hopkins failed to cut the Browns’ deficit with 6:28 left in the first quarter, pushing a 49-yard field goal attempt wide left.
