No matter what happens, it seems, the Cleveland Browns will always be “big brother” to the Cincinnati Bengals. The Browns have been around longer and have controlled the matchup since 2018 with a record of 9-3 against their in-state AFC North rival during that time period.
Overall, the Bengals hold the series lead at 53-48. Given Cleveland’s struggles since the team was ripped away to Baltimore for the 1996 season, it is a surprise Cincinnati hasn’t been able to take a bigger lead.
Last year, the Bengals copied the Browns historic white helmet that Cleveland had recently returned to the rotation. (Click here for more from our historian Barry Shuck on the history of the team’s helmets)
This year, Cincinnati once again decided to copy the Browns with the introduction of orange pants:
Welp. Cat’s out of the bag. pic.twitter.com/gtVx2zPLy6
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) August 12, 2024
While the Bengals will don those for the first time, Cleveland pulled their version from the vault back in 2020 with video evidence of their historic use:
While Cincinnati might have the overall series versus Cleveland and more recent success, including a Super Bowl appearance in 2021, the Bengals continue to be Little Brother copying Big Brother’s style.
