The 82nd Battle of Ohio is off to a brutal start for quarterback Andy Dalton and the Bengals, who trail 7-3 after the first quarter.
Cleveland linebacker Craig Robertson intercepted Dalton on the first series of the game, returning the ball to the Cincinnati 18. Five plays later, Terrance West ran in for a 4-yard touchdown and an early 7-0 lead.
Dalton is 2 of 9 for 11 yards and the interception for a 0.0 passer rating.
The Bengals caught a break when James Wright forced a Jim Leonhard fumble on a punt return, and Shawn Williams recovered it at the Cleveland 32. A pass interference penalty on Cleveland set up the Bengals the 19, but they went backward from there and had to settle for a 43-yard Mike Nugent field goal.
The Browns outgained the Bengals 74 to 51 in the opening quarter, withe Cleveland quarterback Brian Hoyer comnpleting 3 of 4 passes for 48 yards while West carried seven times for 26 yards.
Jeremy Hill, coming off his career-high 154 yard, two-touchdown performance last week, has 22 yards on eight carries.