Cleveland Browns: 5 Bold Predictions vs the Bengals
The Cleveland Browns will take on a one-win Cincinnati Bengals team this Sunday. With their playoff chances still hanging by a thread, a win is the only acceptable outcome. Here are five bold predictions for the Browns in this week 14 matchup.
This Sunday the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals will play in the 92nd Battle of Ohio. The Browns were able to win both meetings against the Bengals last season quite handily and will be looking to assert their dominance in this in-state rivalry. But just as it is in any rivalry situation, you can throw the records out the window and you should expect the unexpected.
That is good news for the Bengals who come into Sunday’s contest with a record of 1-11. However, that one win came in their last game, and they will undoubtedly be looking to keep that winning feeling going. This will be the second game Andy Dalton will be starting since getting benched in week 10.
The ‘Red Rifle’ is an impressive 11-4 as a starting quarterback against the Browns. Anytime that you have such a high level of success against a particular team, it is almost guaranteed to spark some confidence. Dalton will be without the Bengals’ best weapon in A.J. Green, but he will get the speedy wide receiver John Ross back for this contest.
The Browns enter this game coming off of their most heartbreaking loss of the season, losing by a touchdown in Pittsburgh. Although it’s not all doom and gloom, the Browns are winners of three out of their last four games. All three of those wins came at home, and that is where this installment of the Battle of Ohio will be played.
For the first time since the ’90s, the Browns have the upper hand in talent, organizational stability, and at the quarterback position. It’s a swapping of roles for the AFC North foes.
The Bengals are now the one in the driver’s seat for the number overall pick in the draft, and the Browns are holding on to the slimmest of hopes for a playoff berth. What a time to be alive.
It’s December and the Browns are still playing in meaningful games, for this week at least. Now is not the time to be timid, now is the time to be bold. Let’s look at five bold predictions for the Browns as they look to improve their AFC North record to 3-1.