CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Browns, who have lost 3 of their last 4, aim to put the drama surrounding Odell Beckham Jr.’s departure behind them and focus on salvaging their season Sunday afternoon.
After the moody receiver quit on his team and forced his way out of Cleveland this week, the Browns return to where they began their playoff charge a year ago – in Cincinnati.
A win and the Browns, who have won 5 of the last 6 meetings in the I-71 series, get even in the standings with the Bengals and right back in the thick of the AFC playoff race. A loss and they fall below .500, remain in the basement of the AFC North and we can all start planning for vacation on January 10.
Last year down by the Ohio River, Beckham was lost for the season to a torn ACL, Baker Mayfield started 0-5 then completed a franchise record 21 consecutive passes and the Browns and Bengals threw haymakers at each other in the fourth quarter that saw five lead changes. The Browns prevailed 37-34 thanks to Mayfield’s touchdown throw to Donovan Peoples-Jones with 11 seconds to play.
The 5-3 Bengals are one of the league’s pleasant surprises early in the season while the .500 Browns remain one of the biggest disappointments in 2021.
What to watch for – Injured left shoulder or not, the Browns need Mayfield to elevate his play and turn the season around. With Beckham out last year, Mayfield completed 64% of his passes for 2,049 yards with 11 touchdowns and 1 interception and went 7-2 and they need him to have similar success going forward. This season Mayfield is completing a career-best 66.7% of his passes but had thrown for 1,699 yards with 6 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. The Browns passing attack ranks near the bottom of the league and offensively they’ve had just 10 explosive plays of 20 or more yards in their last three games combined.
Blake Hance takes over at right tackle for Jack Conklin, who was placed in injured reserve Saturday after suffering a dislocated elbow last Sunday. The offensive line will have their hands full thanks to the Bengals string defensive line which includes former Browns defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, who has 3 1/2 sacks. Sam Hubbard has 4 sacks and edge rusher Trey Hendickson leads the team with 7 1/2 sacks this season.
Cleveland’s run game remains tops in the league thanks to Nick Chubb, who is averaging 5.5 yards per carry this season. Chubb, who missed 2 games to rest a calf injury, is third in the NFL with 584 yards on the ground but he hasn’t scored a touchdown in 3 of his last 4 games played. The Browns are 14-5 since last season when they rush for 100 or more yards in a game.
Myles Garrett leads the NFL with 10 ½ sacks but the All-Pro defensive end is looking to take his game to the next level. Last season, Garrett had four strip sacks but he’s yet to record one this season. His career 53 sacks are the most by an active player in his first 59 games and third most in NFL history behind Derrick Thomas, who had 55 and Reggie White’s 70.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow leads a potent offense that is averaging just under 28 points per game. He is fifth in the NFL in passing with 2,269 yards and his 20 touchdowns rank third in the league, but his nine Interceptions are tied for second leaguewide. Burrow, who is in his second season, enters Sunday 97 passing yards shy of 5,000 for his career. Rookie Ja’Marr Chase, Burrow’s former college teammate, has 786 yards receiving and he has as many receiving touchdowns – 7 – as the Browns entire offense. Tight end C.J. Uzomah has 21 catches but 5 have gone for touchdowns. Joe Mixon is tied with Chase for the team lead in touchdowns 5 of them coming on the ground while he averages 4.2 yards per carry.
The Browns are expected to get cornerback Denzel Ward back in the lineup which should be a boost to a secondary that will need all they help they can get.
Last week – Browns lost to the Steelers 15-10, Bengals lost to the Jets 34-31
Last Time – October 25, 2020: Browns 37, Bengals 34
Series – Bengals lead 51-44
Rankings – Points: Browns 19 (22.9), Bengals 7 (27.5)
Yards: Browns 10 (382.5), Bengals 14 (363.1)
Rushing: Browns 1 (161.1), Bengals 23 (98.6)
Passing: Browns 26 (221.4), Bengals 11 (264.5)
Points allowed: Browns 13 (22.5), Bengals T-6 (20.3)
Yards allowed: Browns 3 (304.9), Bengals 17 (361.3)
Rushing yards allowed: Browns 3 (84.8), Bengals 7 (94.4)
Passing yards allowed: Browns 7 (220.1), Bengals 23 (266.9)
Turnover ratio: Browns T-21 (-3), Bengals T-17 (-1)
Projected starters for Browns – Offense: WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, LT Jedrick Wills Jr., LG Joel Bitonio, C JC Tretter, RG Wyatt Teller, RT Blake Hance, TE Austin Hooper, WR Jarvis Landry, QB Baker Mayfield, RB Nick Chubb, FB Andy Janovich
Defense: DE Myles Garrett, DT Malik Jackson, DT Malik McDowell, DE Jadeveon Clowney, WILL Malcolm Smith, MIKE Anthony Walker, DB Troy Hill, CB Greg Newsome II, CB Denzel Ward, SS Ronnie Harrison Jr., FS John Johnson III
Injury report – QUESTIONABLE: DE Jadeveon Clowney (ankle, knee, hip), TE Harrison Bryant (thigh), DE Takkarist McKinley (groin), WR Donovan Peoples-Jones (groin), CB Denzel Ward (hamstring); EXPECTED TO PLAY: DT Malik Jackson (ankle), S John Johnson III (neck), WR Jarvis Landry, DT Malik McDowell (illness), CB A.J. Green (groin), DE Joe Jackson (shoulder), C J.C. Tretter (knee), LT Jedrick Wills Jr. (ankle), QB Baker Mayfield (left shoulder), TE David Njoku (neck)
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. Paul Brown Stadium – Cincinnati, Ohio
Prediction – Browns 27, Bengals 24
Our record – 5-3
