CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Battle of Ohio now features a pair of Heisman trophy winners and No. 1 overall picks in quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Joe Burrow.
Mayfield won the award at Oklahoma in 2017 before being selected first overall in 2018. Burrow led LSU to a national championship last year before the Bengals selected him in April.
While the Browns are an historically awful 1-20-1 in Week 1, they are vastly improved come Week 2 where they are 9-12 since 1999 and they hope that trend continues.
The Bengals look to avoid an 0-2 start for the third time in 4 years.
What to watch for – The connection, or lack of one, between Mayfield and Odell Beckham Jr. was a hot topic after Beckham ended up with just 3 catches for 22 yards on 10 targets in the opener marking the fourth time in 17 games with the Browns he’s had 3 or fewer catches and less than 30 yards.
Mayfield was an unimpressive 21 of 39 for 189 yards with a touchdown and interception against the Ravens.
In four career games against the Bengals, Mayfield has a 100.5 rating and 11 touchdowns (ten passing, one rushing), his most touchdown passes against any opponent.
The Bengals announced they will be without two defensive tackles Thursday night – Geno Atkins (shoulder) and Mike Daniels (groin) – which should mean opportunity knocks for Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt to run wild. Both averaged at least 5.5 yards per carry against the Ravens before the game got out of hand and the Browns went away from the run.
With the Browns defense hurting – safety Gran Delpit lost for the season, linebackers Mack Wilson and Jacob Phillips sidelined with knee injuries, cornerback Greedy Wilson out with a shoulder injury – Thursday night could be Burrow’s coming out party. The Ravens blew through Cleveland’s D like a hot knife through butter as the Browns allowed the second-most points in Week 1, gave up 377 yards and allowed Baltimore to convert 6 of 11 on third down.
Aside from recovering a fumble, Myles Garrett, who received a 5-year, $125 million contract extension in July, was quiet last week against the Ravens and the Browns need him to play up to his potential and contract.
Burrow’s NFL debut for the Bengals saw him complete 23 of 36 passes for 193 yards with an interception but he missed on all 5 deep balls and missed potential touchdowns to A.J. Green and John Ross. He did run for a 23-yard score but was sacked 3 times.
Joe Mixon carved up the Browns a year ago. He totaled at least 175 combined yards from scrimmage and a rushing TD in each game.
Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap has 12.5 sacks in 17 career games against the Browns, the most against any opponent in his career.
It appears the Browns are going to dodge the potential nightmare of having Austin Seibert, waived by them on Monday after he missed a 41-yard field goal and PAT, kick against them after the Bengals claimed him Tuesday. Randy Bullock, who missed a potential game-tying 31-yard field goal in the closing seconds due a calf cramp, practiced this week and is expected to handle the kicking duties for Cincinnati.
Last Week – Bengals lost to the Chargers 16-13; Browns lost to the Ravens 38-6
The last time – December 29, 2019: Bengals 33, Browns 23
Series history – Bengals lead all-time series 51-42 and 27-15 since 1999
Rankings – Radio.com Week 2 NFL Power rankings – Bengals No. 27, Browns No. 28
Points per game: Bengals 30 (13.0), Browns 32 (6.0)
Total yards per game: Bengals 22 (295.0), Browns 21 (306.0)
Rushing yards per game: Bengals 15 (122.0), Browns 8T (138.0)
Passing yards per game: Bengals 24 (173.0), Browns 25 (168.0)
Points allowed per game: Bengals 4 (16.0), Browns 30T (38.0)
Total defensive yards allowed per game: Bengals 12 (362.0), Browns 17 (377.0)
Rushing yards allowed per game: Bengals 24 (155.0), Browns 12 (107.0)
Passing yards allowed per game: Bengals 10 (207.0), Browns 22 (270.0)
Turnover ratio: Bengals 22T (-2), Browns 22T (-2)
Probable starters for Browns – Offense: WR Jarvis Landry, LT Jedrick Wills Jr., LG Joel Bitonio, C JC Tretter, RG Wyatt Teller, RT Jack Conklin, TE Austin Hooper, WR Odell Beckham Jr., QB Baker Mayfield, RB Nick Chubb, FB Andy Janovich
Defense: DE Myles Garrett, DT Sheldon Richardson, DT Larry Ogunjobi, DE Olivier Vernon, WILL Malcolm Smith, MIKE B.J. Goodson, SAM Sione Takitaki, CB Denzel Ward, CB Terrance Mitchell, SS Karl Joseph, FS Andrew Sendejo
Injury report – OUT: CB Kevin Johnson (liver), LB Jacob Phillions (knee), LB Mack Wilson (knee), CB Greedy Williams (shoulder); QUESTIONABLE: RT Jack Conklin (ankle/finger), OT Chris Hubbard (ankle), C JC Tretter (knee), WR Jarvis Landry (hip), DE Olivier Vernon (abdomen), LT Jedrick Wills (shin)
Broadcast – Radio: 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 WNCX and the University Hospitals Cleveland Browns radio network. TV: NFL Network, WEWS-TV 5
Kickoff – 8:20 p.m. FirstEnergy Stadium – Cleveland, Ohio
Our prediction – Browns 27, Bengals 24
Our prediction record – 1-0
