Win Probability
Confidence: <strong>clear edge</strong> Bands are honesty-checked against held-out seasons, not a feeling about this game — see the <a href="/track-record">full track record</a>.
Key Insights
- CLE offense: -0.209 EPA/play over its last 8 games (32nd in the league)
- CIN offense: +0.115 EPA/play over its last 8 games (7th in the league)
- QB edge to CIN: Joe Flacco (CLE) -0.017 vs Joe Burrow (CIN) +0.131 EPA/dropback
- CIN defense: +0.059 EPA/play allowed over its last 8 games (19th in the league)
- CLE defense: +0.027 EPA/play allowed over its last 8 games (13th in the league)
Predicted Final Score
Typical error on unseen games: ±10.2 pts on margin, ±10.7 pts on total (held-out 2025). Treat this as a range, not a prediction to the point — see the <a href="/track-record">full track record</a>.
Injury Report — Week 1
CIN
No players on the report.
CLE
Pulled fresh for 2025 week 1 specifically, not a cached snapshot — this changes every week as new reports come in.
Actual Result
Prediction missed by 6 pts on margin, 12 pts on total.
Scoring Summary
- Q1 07:37 TD CIN (7:37) (Shotgun) 30-C.Brown right guard for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. CIN 6 – CLE 0
- Q2 12:44 TD CLE (12:44) 98-A.Huntington reported in as eligible. 35-R.Sanders right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. CIN 7 – CLE 6
- Q2 04:21 TD CIN (4:21) 61-C.Ford and 74-J.Rivers reported in as eligible. 9-J.Burrow pass short right to 86-N.Fant for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. CIN 13 – CLE 7
- Q2 00:27 FG CLE (:27) 25-A.Szmyt 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-50-R.Sunahara, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez. CIN 14 – CLE 10
- Q3 07:24 TD CLE (7:24) (Shotgun) 15-J.Flacco pass short middle to 19-C.Tillman for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. CIN 14 – CLE 16
- Q3 02:52 FG CIN (2:52) 2-E.McPherson 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-W.Wagner, Holder-8-R.Rehkow. CIN 17 – CLE 16
Fourth-Down Decisions
-
Q1 CLE 4th & 1 at the 48Chose GO ✓ matched the modelp(convert) 68% p(FG) 33%
(4:11) 98-A.Huntington reported in as eligible. 35-R.Sanders up the middle to CIN 46 for 2 yards (44-D.Knight).
-
Q2 CLE 4th & 1 at the 1Chose GO ✓ matched the modelp(convert) 62% p(FG) 99%
(12:44) 98-A.Huntington reported in as eligible. 35-R.Sanders right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
-
Q2 CIN 4th & 7 at the 42Chose PUNT Model wanted GO instead — cost +0.72 EPp(convert) 40% p(FG) 49%
(9:36) 8-R.Rehkow punts 42 yards to end zone, Center-46-W.Wagner, Touchback.
-
Q2 CLE 4th & 8 at the 78Chose PUNT ✓ matched the modelp(convert) 37%
(8:42) 13-C.Bojorquez punts 55 yards to CIN 23, Center-50-R.Sunahara. 15-C.Jones to CIN 46 for 23 yards (31-D.McMillon).
-
Q2 CLE 4th & 5 at the 27Chose KICK ✓ matched the modelp(convert) 38% p(FG) 83%
(:27) 25-A.Szmyt 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-50-R.Sunahara, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.
-
Q3 CIN 4th & 2 at the 72Chose PUNT Model wanted GO instead — cost +0.63 EPp(convert) 65%
(5:47) 8-R.Rehkow punts 62 yards to CLE 10, Center-46-W.Wagner. 2-D.Carter to CLE 25 for 15 yards (26-T.Anderson).
-
Q3 CIN 4th & 4 at the 17Chose KICK Model wanted GO instead — cost +0.59 EPp(convert) 46% p(FG) 94%
(2:52) 2-E.McPherson 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-W.Wagner, Holder-8-R.Rehkow.
-
Q4 CLE 4th & 5 at the 39Chose GO ✓ matched the modelp(convert) 40% p(FG) 57%
(14:16) (Shotgun) 15-J.Flacco pass incomplete short middle to 3-J.Jeudy.
-
Q4 CIN 4th & 9 at the 60Chose PUNT ✓ matched the modelp(convert) 38%
(13:18) 8-R.Rehkow punts 60 yards to end zone, Center-46-W.Wagner, Touchback.
-
Q4 CLE 4th & 7 at the 42Chose PUNT ✓ matched the modelp(convert) 35% p(FG) 49%
(9:30) 13-C.Bojorquez punts 42 yards to end zone, Center-50-R.Sunahara, Touchback.
-
Q4 CLE 4th & 15 at the 18 late-gameChose KICK ✓ matched the modelp(convert) 22% p(FG) 93%
(2:25) 25-A.Szmyt 36 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-50-R.Sunahara, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.
-
Q4 CIN 4th & 6 at the 70 late-gameChose PUNT ✓ matched the modelp(convert) 46%
(2:00) 8-R.Rehkow punts 49 yards to CLE 21, Center-46-W.Wagner. 2-D.Carter to CLE 33 for 12 yards (46-W.Wagner; 34-S.Perine).
-
Q4 CIN 4th & 20 at the 50 late-gameChose PUNT Model wanted KICK instead — cost +0.47 EPp(convert) 26% p(FG) 28%
(:30) 8-R.Rehkow punts 49 yards to CLE 1, Center-46-W.Wagner, downed by CIN-37-P.Jules.