Cleveland falls to 1-12 for season openers with 27-17 loss to Cincinnati

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

With one quick snap, the Cincinnati Bengals cracked the Browns in half.

A.J. Green caught Cleveland’s defense napping for his first career catch, a 41-yard touchdown from backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, giving the Cincinnati Bengals a stunning 27-17 win Sunday to spoil a sloppy debut by the Browns in coach Pat Shurmur’s debut.

Green was left uncovered by the Browns, who were slow coming out of the huddle. All Gradkowski, on in relief of injured rookie Andy Dalton, had to do was lob the ball to Green. The speedy wideout did the rest, scoring with 4:31 left to shock the Browns and their fans, who watched Cleveland fall to 1-12 in season openers since 1999.