Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals

The Battle of Ohio, the storied intrastate rivalry between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals, renews in Cleveland. Both teams are members of the AFC North, and the rivalry dates back to 1970 when the Bengals joined the NFL after the AFL merger. The connection runs deep: Paul Brown, who founded and coached the Browns, later founded the Bengals. The teams split the all-time series, with the Bengals holding a 56–49 lead, and have never met in the playoffs despite both reaching conference championships in the 1980s.

The rivalry is fueled by Ohio's geographic and cultural divide—Cleveland in the northeast and Cincinnati in the southwest, with Columbus as the battleground for fan support. This regular-season matchup carries extra weight as both teams battle for AFC North positioning. Fans can expect a charged atmosphere as two historic franchises with passionate fan bases clash on the field.