


Browns kicker Andre Szmyt had a forgettable NFL debut.
The rookie out of Syracuse missed an extra point and a potential go-ahead field goal in the second half of Cleveland’s 17-16 loss Sunday to the Bengals in the season opener for both teams.
Szmyt, who beat out Dustin Hopkins for the kicking job with a strong preseason missed the PAT that would have given the Browns a 17-14 lead following a touchdown catch by Cedric Tillman from Joe Flacco with 7:20 left in the third quarter.
After the Bengals took a one-point lead on an Evan McPherson field goal later in the period, Szmyt pushed a 36-yard FG attempt wide right with 2:22 remaining in the fourth.

The 40-year-old Flacco threw for 290 yards but had two interceptions in his first start for the Browns, who drafted quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in April.
Cleveland lost despite holding Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati offense to 11 first downs and 141 total yards of offense.