CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Browns used their first meeting against the Bengals in Week 2 to get well after getting run of the field by the Ravens in Week 1.
They’ll look to repeat the feat after the Steelers waxed them last week in Pittsburgh as they travel to Cincinnati looking for their fifth win in seven games to begin the season.
The Bengals have won nine of the last 14 games in the series, but the Browns have won four of the last five, including splitting in 2019.
Cleveland looks for their ninth sweep of Cincinnati in the Battle for Ohio.
What to watch for – Baker Mayfield will continue to play with a rib/chest injury as he looks to put one of the worst performances of his young career behind him that saw him sacked four times and throw two interceptions in a loss to the Steelers last week. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said the quarterback is “healthy but not 100%.” Mayfield is completing 60.6% of his passes this season with 10 TDs and six interceptions but has yet to throw for at least 250 yards in a single game this season.
The Browns rushed for 215 yards against the Bengals last month prompting fullback Andy Janovich to say following the game “we could have had 300 or 400 yards if we wanted,” however Nick Chubb is on IR and right guard Wyatt Teller is out with a calf strain as the two teams meet again. Since Chubb went down the Browns have run for a combined 199 net yards the last two games. Kareem Hunt ran for 86 yards on 10 carries against the Bengals in September.
Cleveland has scored in 19 of its 20 trips to the red zone and Cincinnati has been nearly as good, scoring on 15 of 17 trips.
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett has a sack in five consecutive games, and he leads the AFC with seven sacks. He got one of his three strip-sacks on Bengals rookie quarterback Joe Burrow in the first matchup.
Burrow has thrown for 300 or more yards in four games and is among the NFL’s top 10 with more than 1,600 passing yards. He’s first in the league in attempts (246) and second in completions (160) but he’s also been sacked 24 times, second most in the NFL. In Week 2 at FirstEnergy Stadium Burrow attempted 61 passes completing 37 for a season-high 316 yards.
The Browns got a little healthier this week with safeties Ronnie Harrison (concussion) and Karl Joseph (hamstring) returning from injuries. They are expected to play although head coach Kevin Stefanski said Friday that they will be cautious with Joseph.
A healthier secondary comes at a good time for the Browns. Bengals receiver A.J. Green has 65 receptions for 982 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games against the Browns. Green is fifth on the Bengals’ list of all-time games played and they are 38-7 when he scores a TD. Cincinnati receiver Tyler Boyd has 27 catches for first downs, fourth best in the league.
Bengals running back Joe Mixon, whose 119 carries are second most in the league, will miss the game with a foot injury. Giovani Bernard, who hasn’t fumbled in 764 attempts, will carry the load Sunday. Garrett said Bernard “is no slouch.”
Cincinnati is 10 of 11 converting fourth downs, fourth best in the NFL, this season. Conversely the Browns aren’t very good stopping fourth down conversions having allowed opponents to convert 10 of 11 tries.
Last Week – Browns lost to the Steelers 38-7; Bengals lost to the Colts 31-27
The last time – Sept. 17, 2020: Browns 35, Bengals 30
Series history – Bengals lead 51-43; since 1999 Bengals lead 27-16
Rankings – Radio.com Week 4 NFL Power rankings: Browns No. 9, Bengals 26
Points per game: Browns 12 (27.2), Bengals 26 (21.5)
Total yards per game: Browns 19 (358.8), Bengals 25 (343.3)
Rushing yards per game: Browns 1 (169.5), Bengals 24 (101.8)
Passing yards per game: Browns 29 (189.3), Bengals 18T (241.5)
Points allowed per game: Browns 30 (31.2), Bengals 17 (26.2)
Total defensive yards allowed per game: Browns 19 (365.7), Bengals 25 (394.7)
Rushing yards allowed per game: Browns 4 (94.0), Bengals 27 (142.3)
Passing yards allowed per game: Browns 27 (271.7), Bengals 22 (252.3)
Turnover ratio: Browns 6T (+4), Bengals 19T (-1)
Probable starters for Browns – Offense: WR Jarvis Landry, LT Jedrick Wills Jr., LG Joel Bitonio, C JC Tretter, RG Chris Hubbard, RT Jack Conklin, TE Harrison Bryant, WR Odell Beckham Jr., QB Baker Mayfield, RB Kareem Hunt, FB Andy Janovich
Defense: DE Myles Garrett, DT Sheldon Richardson, DT Larry Ogunjobi, DE Olivier Vernon, MIKE B.J. Goodson, WILL Malcolm Smith, CB Denzel Ward, CB Terrance Mitchell, SS Sheldrick Redwine, FS Andrew Sendejo, DB Tavierre Thomas
Injury report – OUT: RG Wyatt Teller (calf), TE Austin Hooper (appendicitis), LB Jordan Phillips (knee); QUESTIONABLE: S Karl Joseph (hamstring); EXPECTED TO PLAY: QB Baker Mayfield (chest), TE David Njoku (shoulder), LB Tae Davis (elbow), S Ronnie Harrison (concussion), DT Sheldon Richardson (Achilles), S Andrew Sendejo (shin), P Jamie Gillan (groin), RB Kareem Hunt (ribs), WR Jarvis Landry (hip/ribs), C JC Tretter (knee)
Uniforms – White jersey, orange pants, white socks
Broadcast – Radio: 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 WNCX and the University Hospitals Cleveland Browns radio network. TV: WOIO-TV 19 (CBS)
Kickoff – 1:03 p.m. Paul Brown Stadium – Cincinnati, Ohio
Our prediction – Browns 31, Bengals 24
Our prediction record – 4-2
