Week 13
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns
December 6, 2026
Huntington Bank Field
AFC North Rivalry
Bengals–Browns
The Battle of Ohio
The Battle of Ohio pits the state's two NFL franchises against each other twice every season as AFC North division rivals. It is rooted in the personal feud between coaching legend Paul Brown and Browns owner Art Modell.
The Rivalry
The rivalry's spark predates the games themselves. Paul Brown, the founding coach the Cleveland franchise was named after, was dismissed by owner Art Modell in 1963; five years later Brown launched the Cincinnati Bengals. When the 1970 AFL–NFL merger placed both Ohio teams in the same division, twice-yearly meetings turned that lingering bitterness into a genuine rivalry. The series has never reached the playoffs, but it has produced wild swings and shootouts. Stretches of dominance have alternated between the clubs: Cleveland reeled off seven straight wins in the mid-1990s, and Cincinnati answered with seven consecutive victories from 2014 through 2017. The matchup also yielded some of the highest-scoring games in league history, including a 58-48 Bengals win in 2004. With both fan bases sharing one state, every meeting carries statewide bragging rights.
What's at Stake
As AFC North foes, the Bengals and Browns meet twice a year with division standing and playoff positioning frequently on the line. The rivalry divides a single state, splitting Ohio between Cincinnati's southwest corner and Cleveland's northeast lakefront, so the games settle in-state bragging rights at workplaces, schools and family gatherings. With both franchises having recently fielded competitive rosters, individual matchups can swing the division race.
Famous Moments
- 1970 — Cleveland won the first-ever meeting between the Ohio franchises, 30-27.
- 1994 — Eric Metcalf returned a punt 94 yards for a touchdown, setting a Browns franchise record.
- 2004 — Cincinnati outlasted Cleveland 58-48, the 106 combined points among the highest totals in NFL history.
- 2007 — The Browns won a 51-45 shootout, another of the highest-scoring games the league has seen.
- 2015 — The Bengals posted their largest win in the series, a 37-3 rout.
The Bengals–Browns Games in 2026
The Two Teams
AFC North
Cincinnati Bengals
Paycor Stadium · Cincinnati
Founded in 1968 by Paul Brown, the Bengals have reached three Super Bowls in search of a first title.
AFC North
Cleveland Browns
Huntington Bank Field · Cleveland
Founded in 1946, the Browns won eight pre-Super Bowl championships and keep one of the NFL’s most loyal fanbases, the Dawg Pound.
Plan the Trip
This is the rare rivalry contained entirely within one state. Cincinnati hosts games at Paycor Stadium on the downtown riverfront along the Ohio River, while Cleveland plays at Huntington Bank Field on the Lake Erie shoreline. The two cities sit roughly four hours apart by car, making a home-and-away double-header realistic in a single season. For an Ohio football fan, seeing both stadiums and both ends of the Battle of Ohio is a natural bucket-list trip.
Frequently Asked Questions: Bengals–Browns
The two teams first met in 1970. The Battle of Ohio pits the state's two NFL franchises against each other twice every season as AFC North division rivals. It is rooted in the personal feud between coaching legend Paul Brown and Browns owner Art Modell.
As AFC North foes, the Bengals and Browns meet twice a year with division standing and playoff positioning frequently on the line. The rivalry divides a single state, splitting Ohio between Cincinnati's southwest corner and Cleveland's northeast lakefront, so the games settle in-state bragging rights at workplaces, schools and family gatherings. With both franchises having recently fielded competitive rosters, individual matchups can swing the division race.
Yes — they meet 2 times in the 2026 NFL season. The game pages, each with a fan-travel guide, are linked on this page.
Cincinnati Bengals host at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati; Cleveland Browns play at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland.
