A major AFC North showdown is in the cards this coming Sunday as the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns lock horns in a pivotal division matchup. The Bengals’ lead at the top of the division has been reduced to just half a game after they were crushed by the Steelers on Sunday, 42-21.
The Bengals will look to get their playoff bid back on track against a Cleveland team that is desperate to resuscitate their own postseason hopes. After destroying the Bengals last month to go top of the AFC North, the Browns have lost three of their last four games to slip to the bottom of the divisional standings at 7-6.
Can the Browns complete a season sweep of the Bengals and make the topsy-turvy AFC North race even murkier? Or will the Bengals exact some payback and extinguish Cleveland’s playoff aspirations for good? Read on for a complete preview of this matchup and while you’re at it, you can check out our preview of another key divisional game: Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans.
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Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns Betting Preview
When: Sunday, December 14, 1:00 PM ET
Where: FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland
Line: Cincinnati Bengals (-1.5) at Cleveland Browns (+1.5); total: 44.5 – view all NFL lines
Betting on the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati’s hopes of winning the AFC North for a second consecutive season took a huge hit Sunday as they were thrashed by rivals Pittsburgh, 42-21, to leave the division race wide open with three games remaining in the schedule.
[sc:NFL240banner ]The Bengals wasted a golden opportunity to create some separation at the top of the standings as they were unable to stop the Steelers’ offensive onslaught especially in the second half. The Bengals had no answer for running back LeVeon Bell who scored three touchdowns in the final 24 minutes to become the sixth player in NFL history to have 200 yards from scrimmage in three straight games.
Cincinnati’s defensive line, which allowed Bell to run riot for 185 rushing yards, will need to play much better against Cleveland’s running attack which ranks 14th in the league in rushing offense with an average of 113.9 yards per game.
They will need to pay particular attention to Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell who have carried the cudgels for the Browns’ offense given Brian Hoyer’s struggles recently with the pass. The duo combined for 108 yards in their last game against the Colts.
Aside from their defensive struggles (543 total yards allowed against the Steelers), the Bengals will need to address their faltering offense as well. Leading by four entering the fourth quarter, the Bengals’ offense suddenly dried up as they were shut out by Pittsburgh 25-0 in the final quarter.
That was a complete surprise considering that their offense was in full flight in the first three quarters. Andy Dalton and A.J. Green combined splendidly for the Bengals as the receiver caught 11 passes for a career-high 224 yards, including an 81-yard touchdown reception on the final play of the third quarter to give Cincinnati a 21-17 lead.
They will have their work cut out for them this coming Sunday, though, as they will face a Browns secondary that is 10th in the league in passing defense, allowing just 231.1 YPG this season. In fact, in their last meeting with the Browns back in November, Dalton produced the worst performance of his career. He completed just 10-of-33 passes for 86 yards with three interceptions and two sacks and a ghastly passer rating of two (two!!) in a 24-3 loss to Cleveland.
After another gut-wrenching defeat Sunday that left their dimming playoff hopes hanging in the balance, the question on everybody’s lips is whether Brian Hoyer will be afforded another shot as the starting quarterback this coming Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Given his lackluster performance against the Colts, it’s getting increasingly tough for head coach Mike Pettine to keep backing Hoyer. The incumbent quarterback had a dismal showing Sunday against Indianapolis, completing just 14 of 31 passes for 140 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions, a performance so atrocious it did nothing to solidify his standing in the depth chart.
Is it now time for Johnny Football to assume the starting quarterback position? The evidence is mounting for Pettine to make the change. In Cleveland’s last four games, Hoyer has completed just 75 of 151 passes for a measly completion rate of 49.7 percent. During that stretch, he has averaged for 246 passing yards with just one touchdown and a whopping eight interceptions.
Even in their win against the Bengals last month, Hoyer was a non-factor as he completed just 15 of 23 passes for 198 yards with no touchdown passes and no picks. In fact, it was the Cleveland defense that took all the plaudits in that game as they stifled Cincinnati to just 165 total yards in a 24-3 massacre.
That same stellar defense almost won them the game Sunday against the Colts. Even with Hoyer’s struggles, the Browns were able to put up a 24-19 advantage heading into the final minute of play thanks mainly to two touchdowns scored by the Cleveland defense. Unfortunately, they failed to stop Andrew Luck’s final drive as he tossed a 1-yard touchdown pass to T.Y. Hilton for the game-winning score.
Even with that narrow defeat, there are still plenty of positives for the Browns’ defense to take away heading into their pivotal game against the Bengals. They proved that their D can withstand even the league’s top offensive team as they limited the Colts to just 117 total yards in the entire first half as they harassed Andrew Luck on nearly every throw.
They will need to apply that same kind of pressure against Andy Dalton who has already proven to be quite susceptible against the pass-rush this season. He is third among starting quarterbacks in interceptions thrown with 13 already to his name this season. In fact, in that opening encounter against Cincinnati this year, the Browns forced Dalton to throw three picks.
The Browns are 4-3 ATS at home this season.
Writer’s Prediction
With Manziel as their new starting quarterback, the Browns (+1.5) edge past the Bengals, 28-21.
