Cleveland Browns vs. Bengals: Predicting another loss for Hue Jackson
By Randy Gurzi
Writer: Mike Lukas
Looks like the football world is sure the Cincinnati Bengals will beat the Cleveland Browns in Week 12 by at least 3 points, the over/under being 47.5.
But if you’re a Cleveland Browns fan, you see it a little differently.
Browns fans see everything differently, they grasp at positives, because that’s what constantly losing forces you to do.
Or they could give up, but there aren’t a whole lot of quitters rooting for the Browns.
The football world looks at this Week 12 match-up differently than Browns fans do.
Here are some of the ways.
Losing vs. Winning
How the football world looks at it:
The Browns have lost four out of their last five games.
How Browns fans see it:
The Browns are well-rested and on a one-game winning streak.
Historic Odds
How the football world looks at it:
The Browns haven’t won an away game since Week 5 in 2015.
How Browns fans see it:
Sure Week 12 is technically an away game in Cincinnati, but it’s still being played in Ohio, so there will be thousands of Browns fans there who’ll make the four-hour trip down I-71 south and make noise.
The Turncoat Factor
How the football world looks at it:
The Bengals hired recently fired Cleveland head coach Hue Jackson who will divulge every Browns secret to the enemy.
How Browns fans see it:
Heh, it’s Hue Jackson – he’ll talk, sure, but what does he know? Chances are the most he’ll spill the beans on are the Browns offensive plans involving Tyrod Taylor, Carlos Hyde and Josh Gordon.
Bengals are having a better season
How the football world looks at it:
The 5-5 Bengals have a better record than the 3-6-1 Browns and because they have more at stake when it comes to the playoffs they’re the better team.
How Browns fans see it:
Cleveland’s defense may be ranked 31st, but they have more takeaways than Cincinnati’s defense that’s ranked even worse overall at 32nd and that allows opponents to score almost five more points per game than the Browns do.
Plus the Browns’ offense is ranked 18th and rising with new coordinator Freddie Kitchens dropping game plans that utilize players’ strengths and result in touchdowns.
Browns win-out these next six games, the playoffs are a very real possibility.
The Bengals offense is only ranked 26th, their best receiver A.J. Green (toe) is questionable and now they have Hue Jackson’s white-spittled headset distractions to deal with.
Bengals score more
How the football world looks at it:
The Bengals score more points per game (25.6) than the Browns do (21.8).
How Browns fans look at it:
Yeah, but that was before Kitchens. In the last two games that Kitchens has game-planned, the Browns scored seven touchdowns and rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield looked as dangerous as he did against the Jets when he pinpointed passes to beat them in Week 3.
You’d be foolish to bet on the Browns
How the football world looks at it:
The Browns lose a lot – they’re young and in chaos and they rarely close the deal.
How Browns fans look at it:
It’s the final part of year-three of the Browns five-year turnaround plan and it’s already resulted in three wins and a tie, which is two and a half more wins than the last two seasons combined plus there’ll most likely be a few more.
Be a shame to underestimate how badly the Browns want to embarrass their ex (and somewhat) unpopular head coach with an unexpected win.
Final score prediction
How the football world looks at it:
Bengals 23, Browns 20
How Browns fans look at it:
Browns 24, Bengals 17