A pair of AFC North rivals clash as the Cleveland Browns visit the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday afternoon, both teams grappling with disappointing seasons. In their last outing, Cleveland fell 21-7 at home against Kansas City, failing to cover the spread as a 4.5-point underdog. Conversely, Cincinnati found success on the road, defeating Tennessee 37-27 and covering the spread as six-point favorites. Historically, the Bengals have had the upper hand in their rivalry, leading the all-time regular season series 54-48, and they have won the last two encounters, including a 21-14 victory in their first meeting this season on October 20.
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Who will win this matchup? Read more about this Browns vs. Bengals prediction!
Browns Struggling to Find Their Footing
Cleveland’s recent struggles continued with a third consecutive loss, as they squandered a solid defensive effort against Kansas City, marred by a high number of turnovers. The Browns’ record now stands at 3-11, placing them at the bottom of the AFC North and officially out of playoff contention. In the game against the Chiefs, Cleveland fell behind early, trailing 7-0 after the first quarter, 14-0 at halftime, and 21-0 in the third quarter before finally scoring. The Browns’ offense couldn’t keep pace, losing the total yards battle 311-266, accumulating 18 first downs to Kansas City’s 16, and clocking in at 31:37 in time of possession compared to Cleveland’s 28:23. They turned the ball over six times without forcing any takeaways.
Heading into week 16, the Browns rank 17th in passing offense, averaging 217.5 yards per game, while they sit at 29th in rushing with just 92.1 yards per game. Their scoring offense is also struggling, positioned 30th with an average of 17.1 points per game, and they rank 26th in scoring defense, allowing 25.4 points per game. Quarterback Deshaun Watson has completed 137 of 216 passes for 1,148 yards, with five touchdowns and three interceptions this season. Other quarterbacks who have taken snaps include Jameis Winston and Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Running back Jerome Ford leads the team in rushing with 451 yards and two touchdowns. The receiving corps is headlined by Elijah Moore and David Njoku, who have combined for over 900 receiving yards.
Injury concerns linger for the Browns, with defensive end Shelby Harris and tight end David Njoku missing practice early in the week due to elbow and hamstring issues, respectively. Additionally, cornerback Martin Emerson is in concussion protocol, and standout Myles Garrett missed practice with a back issue. The team’s depth will be tested as they prepare for their matchup against the Bengals.
Bengals Fighting for Playoff Position
The Bengals managed to secure a much-needed victory against Tennessee last week, marking their second win in a row and improving their record to 6-8. This places them third in the AFC North and tenth in the playoff standings, two games behind the Chargers for the final playoff spot. Cincinnati initially trailed Tennessee 14-7 after the first quarter, but they quickly rallied, scoring 24 unanswered points to take a commanding 31-14 lead heading into the final quarter. The Bengals’ defense proved pivotal, forcing six turnovers, including a pick-six, while the offense executed well despite a slight edge in total yards (374-370).
This season, Cincinnati ranks first in the league for passing offense, averaging 271.4 yards per game, but struggles with rushing, sitting at 30th with just 91.1 yards per game. They are fifth in scoring offense, producing an average of 28.5 points per game, while their defense has faced challenges, ranking 31st by allowing 27.6 points per game. Quarterback Joe Burrow has been a standout performer, completing 361 of 527 passes for 3,977 yards, 36 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions. Running back Chase Brown leads the ground game with 832 yards and seven touchdowns.
Cincinnati’s injury report is lengthy, featuring key players like defensive end Sam Hubbard and tackle Orlando Brown Jr. who missed practice due to injuries. Additionally, wide receiver Tee Higgins and quarterback Joe Burrow are managing minor injuries but participated in limited capacity during the week. The Bengals will need all hands on deck as they look to keep their playoff hopes alive against their division rivals.
Best Bets for Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals
