- Battle of Ohio (NFL)
In the
National Football League , the Battle of Ohio refers to games played between theCleveland Browns and theCincinnati Bengals . This rivalry has produced 2 of the 8 highest scoring games in NFL history. The rivalry is currently tied among the teams at 35-35.Geography and a shared heritage add to this rivalry. Cleveland (Northeast) and Cincinnati (Southwest) are on opposite corners of the Buckeye state, and essentially split Ohio. Legendary Head Coach
Paul Brown also started each franchise. The colors of each team are similar, since Paul Brown chose the exact shade of orange used by the Browns for the Bengals.The
Cleveland Browns and theCincinnati Bengals first played in 1970. Previously, the Bengals were a part of theAmerican Football League . After theAFL-NFL merger the Browns and Bengals were placed in theAFC Central Division. They have played twice a year since 1970, except in 1982 (Player's strike-shortened season) and the years 1996-1998 (). The Browns and Bengals have never met in the playoffs. Although Bengals fans would consider the Browns their team's biggest rivals, most Browns fans consider thePittsburgh Steelers as their biggest rivalry, with the Bengals second. The Steelers and Bengals also share a rivalry.1970s (Series tied 10-10)
Year Result Location Notes 1970 Browns 30
Bengals 27Cleveland Municipal Stadium The inaugural game. Bengals 14
Browns 10Riverfront Stadium 1971 Browns 27
Bengals 24Riverfront Stadium Browns 31
Bengals 27Cleveland Municipal Stadium 1972 Browns 27
Bengals 6Cleveland Municipal Stadium Browns 27
Bengals 24Riverfront Stadium 1973 Browns 17
Bengals 10Cleveland Municipal Stadium Bengals 34
Browns 17Riverfront Stadium 1974 Bengals 33
Browns 7Riverfront Stadium Bengals 34
Browns 24Cleveland Municipal Stadium 1975 Bengals 24
Browns 17Riverfront Stadium Browns 35
Bengals 23Cleveland Municipal Stadium 1976 Bengals 45
Browns 24Cleveland Municipal Stadium Bengals 21
Browns 6Riverfront Stadium 1977 Browns 13
Bengals 3Riverfront Stadium Bengals 10
Browns 7Cleveland Municipal Stadium 1978 Browns 13
Bengals 10 (OT)Cleveland Municipal Stadium Bengals 48
Browns 16Riverfront Stadium 1979 Browns 28
Bengals 27Cleveland Municipal Stadium Bengals 16
Browns 12Riverfront Stadium 1980s (Bengals 10-9)
Year Result Location Notes 1980 Browns 31
Bengals 7Cleveland Municipal Stadium Browns 27
Bengals 24Riverfront Stadium 1981 Browns 20
Bengals 17Riverfront Stadium Bengals 41
Browns 21Cleveland Municipal Stadium 1982 Bengals 23
Browns 10Riverfront Stadium 1983 Browns 17
Bengals 7Cleveland Municipal Stadium Thursday Night Football. Bengals 28
Browns 21Riverfront Stadium 1984 Bengals 12
Browns 9Riverfront Stadium Bengals 20
Browns 17 (OT)Cleveland Municipal Stadium Cle: Steve Cox 60 yard FG - team record.
Cin:Jim Breech 35 yard GW-FG in OT.1985 Bengals 27
Browns 10Riverfront Stadium Browns 24
Bengals 6Cleveland Municipal Stadium 1986 Bengals 30
Browns 13Cleveland Municipal Stadium Thursday Night Football. Browns 34
Bengals 3Riverfront Stadium 1987 Browns 34
Bengals 0Riverfront Stadium Browns 38
Bengals 24Cleveland Municipal Stadium 1988 Bengals 24
Browns 17Riverfront Stadium Browns 23
Bengals 16Cleveland Municipal Stadium 1989 Bengals 21
Browns 14Riverfront Stadium Monday Night Football . Teams were actually supposed to play on Monday Night in Cleveland in 1982 but that game was canceled by the player's strike.Bengals 21
Browns 0Cleveland Municipal Stadium 1990s (Browns 8-6)
Year Result Location Notes 1990 Bengals 34
Browns 13Cleveland Municipal Stadium Monday Night Football. Bengals 21
Browns 14Riverfront Stadium 1991 Browns 14
Bengals 13Cleveland Municipal Stadium Bengals 23
Browns 21Riverfront Stadium 1992 Bengals 30
Browns 10Riverfront Stadium Browns 37
Bengals 21Cleveland Municipal Stadium 1993 Browns 27
Bengals 14Cleveland Municipal Stadium Browns 28
Bengals 17Riverfront Stadium 1994 Browns 28
Bengals 20Riverfront Stadium Cle: Eric Metcalf 92 yard punt return for TD - team recordBrowns 37
Bengals 13Cleveland Municipal Stadium 1995 Browns 29
Bengals 26 (OT)Riverfront Stadium Cle: Matt Stover 5 FG (team record), including GW 28 yarder in OTBrowns 26
Bengals 10Cleveland Municipal Stadium Last game played at Municipal Stadium. 1999 Bengals 18
Browns 17Cleveland Browns Stadium First game at Cleveland Browns Stadium Bengals 44
Browns 28Cinergy Field Last game at Riverfront Stadium/Cinergy Field 2000s (Bengals 9-8)
Year Result Location Notes 2000 Browns 24
Bengals 7Paul Brown Stadium First game in Paul Brown Stadium. Bengals 12
Browns 3Cleveland Browns Stadium 2001 Bengals 24
Browns 14Paul Brown Stadium Browns 18
Bengals 0Cleveland Browns Stadium 2002 Browns 20
Bengals 7Cleveland Browns Stadium Browns 27
Bengals 20Paul Brown Stadium 2003 Bengals 21
Browns 14Cleveland Browns Stadium Browns 22
Bengals 14Paul Brown Stadium 2004 Browns 34
Bengals 17Cleveland Browns Stadium Browns QB Jeff Garcia completed a 99-yard TD pass to WRAndré Davis , marking the 10th time in NFL history that a 99-yard TD play was recorded.Bengals 58
Browns 48Paul Brown Stadium 2nd highest scoring game in NFL history.
Cle:Kelly Holcomb 413 yards passing, 5 TD. (Tied team record)
Cin:Rudi Johnson 202 yards rushing, 2 TD.Chad Johnson 10 rec. 117 yards.2005 Bengals 27
Browns 13Cleveland Browns Stadium Bengals 23
Browns 20Paul Brown Stadium 2006 Bengals 34
Browns 17Paul Brown Stadium Bengals 30
Browns 0Cleveland Browns Stadium 2007 Cleveland Browns Stadium 8th highest scoring game in NFL history.
CLE: 554 yards 3rd most in team history. QB Derek Anderson 328 yards passing 5 TD (Tied team record). RBJamal Lewis 216 yards rushing.
CIN:Carson Palmer 401 yards passing 6 TD (team record).Chad Johnson 11 rec. 209 yards 2 TD receiving.Bengals 19
Browns 14Paul Brown Stadium Browns control own destiny for playoffs going into the game, however QB Derek Anderson throws 6 interceptions. Most of the Bengals' points came from these interceptions. Despite an attempt to come back, the Browns lose to the Bengals 14 to 19. Cincinnati has now won the last 4 meetings at Paul Brown Stadium after Cleveland won 3 of the first 4. 2008 Browns 20
Bengals 12Paul Brown Stadium Bengals vs. Browns Cleveland Browns Stadium 1 p.m. References
* [http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap/NFL_20041128_CLE@CIN Recap, 2004 Bengals 58 Browns 48]
* [http://www.bengals.com/team/browns_alltime.asp Bengals All-Time Results vs. Browns]
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