Bengals–Browns rivalry

The Bengals–Browns rivalry or Battle of Ohio is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns.

Both teams are members of the American Football Conference (AFC) North Division, and play two games against each other annually. The Bengals and Browns first played in 1970. Previously, the Bengals were a part of the American Football League (AFL). After the AFL–NFL merger the Bengals and Browns were placed in the AFC Central Division, where they remained until the Browns suspended operations after the 1995 season after moved to Baltimore, leading to the creation of the Baltimore Ravens. The Browns returned in 1999 via an expansion draft and were again placed in the AFC Central. When the NFL realigned divisions in 2002, both teams remained in the Central, which was renamed the AFC North division.

Geography and a shared heritage add to this rivalry. Cleveland (Northeast) and Cincinnati (Southwest) are on opposite corners of Ohio, and essentially split Ohio. Columbus serves as battleground territory for the rivalry, with the Browns dominating the fanbase North and East of the state capital. Dayton leans more towards the Bengals due to the close proximity between Cincinnati and Dayton, though the area does retain a strong following for the Browns. Southern Ohio leans more towards the Bengals, especially in the southeastern part of the state since the Bengals drafted Athens, Ohio native Joe Burrow, though the Upper Ohio Valley retains more of a lean towards the Browns. In most areas, the two teams also share with a fellow AFC North rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, in popularity, though the Browns and Bengals dominate Greater Cleveland and Greater Cincinnati, respectively.

Both teams have direct connections to Paul Brown, who was both the former Hall of Fame head coach and namesake of the Browns and as well the founder of the Bengals franchise in the AFL in 1967, 5 years after he was fired from the Browns. The colors of both teams are similar, with the main color being orange.

The Bengals lead the overall series, 56–49. The two teams have not met in the playoffs.

The Browns were founded in 1946 as a member of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC), and were named after their head coach, Paul Brown.

The Browns dominated the AAFC in its four years of existence, winning all four championships, and joined the NFL in 1950, playing in the next six NFL Championship Games for and winning three of them.

In 1963, Brown was fired by new team owner Art Modell, and subsequently went on to found the Bengals, who played their first AFL season in 1968. Two years later, after the AFL-NFL merger, both the Bengals and the Browns were placed in the AFC Central, and thus met twice every season: fueled by the hatred between Brown and Modell, a rivalry was born.