Keys to a win over the Cincinnati Bengals

The first six weeks of the 2016 regular season have not been ideal for the Cleveland Browns. While the team has had numerous opportunities to pull off victories, they have come up short each week, sometimes due to questionable decisions.

Fortunately, the team has shown its potential as the weeks have gone on, giving some fans hope for the future. Unfortunately however, the team is just now beginning the meat of their schedule, playing their first divisional road game this week against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Competing against an AFC North opponent for just the second time in 2016, the Browns will have their hands full against a physical opponent. Even though Cincinnati is just 2-4, they are looking to make a statement at home following two consecutive road losses.

Since 1999, the Browns are 12-22 against the Bengals, and have lost eight of their last eleven meetings. In the past three matchups, all Cincinnati triumphs, the Browns have not scored more than 10 points, and have not held the Bengals to under 30 points. The staggering reality of the recent meetings between these two teams reveal how much of an uphill battle this week will be for Cleveland.

Still, the game will be played. In fact, with Cincinnati struggling a bit more this season than they have the last two years, an opportunity has surfaced for the Browns to reverse the recent trend against the Bengals. The following slides break down five keys for the Browns to emphasize leading up to this weeks matchup which, if followed, will give the team a chance to notch their first win of the year.