It’s been six weeks since the start of the season and yet the Browns still haven’t found a way to win a single game. In their latest display of futility, the Browns succumbed to Tennessee on Sunday, 28-26. It wasn’t much of a close game until two late Browns touchdowns.
Despite the defeat, there were some encouraging signs from that game for the Browns. For one, it appears Terrelle Pryor is really a capable NFL wide receiver. The former quarterback hauled in 13 catches for 75 yards against the Titans. Pryor currently leads the team with 33 receptions, 413 receiving yards, and a pair of touchdowns.
Aside from Pryor, quarterback Cody Kessler has also been showing significant growth. Kessler had his best performance yet of his young career on Sunday, throwing for 336 yards with two touchdowns and without an interception to finish with a 105.3 QB rating.
With Kessler’s confidence evidently on the rise, the Browns hope that his improvement continues next week in Cincy, where the Browns are 4-3-1 ATS in their last eight trips there dating back to 2008.
It’s going to be a big step down in terms of quality of opponent for the Bengals next Sunday. After getting skewered on the road by Tom Brady and the Pats in Week 6, 35-17, the Bengals come back home for a showdown with the winless Browns. The Bengals are 3-0 SU and ATS in their last three games against Cleveland.
The Bengals simply had no solution for Brady, who completed 29 of 35 passes for 376 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. They should have at least marginal success against Kessler, though, considering the Browns QB’s minimal experience and Cleveland’s lackluster offensive line.
Kessler was sacked six times for a loss of 36 yards in the Tennessee game and he could be in for another rough night in the pocket in Cincinnati, as the Bengals are 10th in the league with 10.0 sacks.
Andy Dalton and company must also be happy to know they’re facing a Browns’ defense that is just 28th in the league in scoring defense and 29th in total defense.
Dalton passed for 254 yards against the Patriots to go with a touchdown assist to Brandon LaFell. A.J. Green is a good bet to have a field day next Sunday, as he faces Cleveland’s stop unit that allows 285.3 passing yards per game. Green leads the NFL with 606 receiving yards.
