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19h ago

Browns’ One-Point Opener Loss Rekindles QB Questions as Missed Kicks Prove Costly

The narrow loss has revived calls to evaluate Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders at quarterback.

Shedeur Sanders #12 of the Cleveland Browns walks on the field after the game against the Cincinnati Bengals during the game at Huntington Bank Field on September 07, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio.
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Overview

  • Cleveland fell 17-16 to Cincinnati after a missed extra point and a wide-right 36-yard field goal, despite outgaining the Bengals and controlling possession.
  • Joe Flacco finished 31-of-45 for 290 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, with both picks deflecting off his receivers’ hands per multiple reports.
  • Head coach Kevin Stefanski voiced continued trust in rookie kicker Andre Szmyt, signaling the team expects him to rebound after the decisive misses.
  • Terry Bradshaw said Gabriel is “the answer” for Cleveland, while Skip Bayless argued on X that starting Shedeur Sanders would have produced a Week 1 win.
  • A viral clip showed Sanders consoling Szmyt after the late miss as outside speculation linked him to the Dolphins in hypothetical trade talk, which reporting characterizes as fan-driven and unlikely to prompt a near-term move by the Browns.