CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Since returning to the NFL in 1999, there aren’t many teams the Browns have been able to beat with any semblance of consistency.
Recently, they’ve turned the tide on one divisional rival – the Bengals.
The two teams meet Sunday in Cincinnati with Cleveland looking to sweep the season series for the third consecutive year and the fourth time in the last five.
What to watch for – Deshaun Watson aims to put last week’s disappointing debut behind him in Houston. Watson struggled all afternoon with multiple low throws that saw him bounce passes to receivers all afternoon.
He finished 12 of 22 for 131 yards with an interception and a career-low 53.4 rating. The Browns offense failed to score a touchdown in the 27-14 win over the Texans.
Browns running back Nick Chubb, who is second in the NFL with 1,119 yards and 12 touchdowns this season, averages over 95 yards rushing in his career against the Bengals and he’s topped 100 yards five times in eight games. Chubb has scored two touchdowns against Cincinnati in three of the last four games, including the first meeting this season, against them.
Receiver Amari Cooper is listed as questionable after suffering a hip injury during practice Thursday that kept him off the field on Friday. Cooper leads the Browns with 61 catches for 832 yards and seven touchdowns.
Myles Garrett has been a one-man wrecking crew when facing Cincinnati. Garrett has nine sacks in eight career games against the Bengals and he’s sacked Joe Burrow at least once in each of Burrow’s four starts against the Browns.
Burrow, who is completing 69.1% of his passes for 3,446 yards with 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions this season, is 0-4 against the Browns.
Explosive Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who leads Cincinnati with six receiving touchdowns this season, missed the first meeting between the teams this season due to injury but he’s healthy and back for the Bengals. The Browns secondary, including Greg Newsome II did not take kindly to Chase’s comments on a podcast this summer about them and are looking to show Chase they are in fact tough to beat.
Last week – Browns beat the Texans 27-14; Bengals beat the Chiefs 27-24
Last Time – October 31, 2022: Browns 32, Bengals 13
Series – Bengals lead 51-47; 27-20 since 1999
Rankings – Points: Browns 10 (24.2), Bengals 7 (26.0)
Yards: Browns 6 (370.8), Bengals 15 (372.4)
Rushing: Browns 4 (156.0), Bengals 26 (100.9)
Passing: Browns 19 (214.8), Bengals 4 (271.5)
Points allowed: Browns 27 (25.0), Bengals 13 (21.3)
Yards allowed: Browns 15 (342.3), Bengals 12 (330)
Rushing yards allowed: Browns 22 (127.4), Bengals 15 (114.3)
Passing yards allowed: Browns 15 (214.8), Bengals 16 (215.7)
Turnover ratio: Browns 28 (-5), Bengals T-10 (+2)
Projected starters for Browns – Offense: WR Amari Cooper, LT Jedrick Wills Jr., LG Joel Bitonio, C Hjalte Froholdt, RG Wyatt Teller, RT Jack Conklin, TE Harrison Bryant, WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, QB Jacoby Brissett, RB Nick Chubb, TE David Njoku
Defense: DE Myles Garrett, DT Jordan Elliott, DT Taven Bryan, DE Jadeveon Clowney, SAM Tony Fields II, MIKE Deion Jones, WILL Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, CB Greedy Williams, CB A.J. Green, SS Grant Delpit, FS John Johnson III
Injury report – QUESTIONABLE: Amari Cooper; EXPECTED TO PLAY: TE Pharoah Brown (illness), Chase Winovich (knee), WR David Bell (thumb), CB AJ Green (knee), OT James Hudson (illness), TE David Njoku (knee), CB Denzel Ward (ankle, illness), DE Myles Garrett (rest, shoulder), DE Alex Wright (knee)
Uniforms – White jerseys, orange pants
Broadcast – Radio: 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 WNCX and the University Hospitals Cleveland Browns radio network. TV: WOIO-TV 19 (CBS)
Kickoff – 1:05 p.m. Paycor Stadium – Cincinnati, Ohio
Prediction – Bengals 31, Browns 27
Our record – 6-5
