Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns lose to Cincinnati Bengals, 31-17

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Cleveland Browns fall to 0-7 on the season following their latest loss, this time to the Cincinnati Bengals by the score of 31-17.

The Cleveland Browns gave it a shot for a while but ultimately came up on the short end of the scoreboard on Sunday in losing to the Cincinnati Bengals by a score of 31-17.

The seven losses to open the season are the second-longest in franchise history, tying the 1999 team, and trailing just the 1975 team that started the season at 0-9.

There is only so much you can say or write about this Browns team as they near the midway point of the 2016 season. Cleveland tried hard, had some highlight plays, did some things that you rarely see, but are just not talented enough to actually win.

Basically, it was just another Sunday after with the guys in Orange and Brown.

Let’s roll through the high points of the game in bullet form:

Oct 23, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back Jeremy Hill (32) runs against Cleveland Browns defensive end Jamie Meder (98) and linebacker Emmanuel Ogbah (90) during the first quarter at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

After playing close games for the first quarter of the season, the Browns have faltered in two of the past three weeks. Injuries and inexperience continue to be a problem, especially on the offensive line as Cameron Erving left the game with an illness, once again forcing an in-game position shuffle.

If the Browns have too many more games like the one they had today against Cincinnati or two weeks ago against the New England Patriots, it will be hard to keep the momentum going during the opening season of the latest rebuilding project.

Everyone knew – or should have known – this was going to be a rough year. Day’s like today, however make the end of the line seem that much further away.