Cleveland Browns vs. Bengals score predictions: Battle for Ohio

Writer: Mike Lukas

Setting aside the disappointment that comes from the Cleveland Browns being 5-7 instead of the 7-5 they SHOULD be, it’s the Cincinnati Bengals they play next so this SHOULD be another win.

Note the emphasis on the “SHOULDs.”

They are there because statistically, the Browns are better than the Bengals. On offense, Cleveland posts almost 50 more yards per game than Cincinnati does and scores almost 5 ½ more points than they do every time they play. On defense, the Browns allow opponents almost 70 less yards per outing and allow about 2 less points against them than the Bengals do each time.

In other words, the Browns SHOULD win this one.

But they SHOULD be at least 7-5 right now (or better).

My apologies for SHOULDing all over this article, but this version of the Cleveland Browns has been full of SHOULD all season long.

The Browns SHOULD be…

…running the ball more in the first half.

…getting OBJ more targets.

…protecting Baker better.

…committing less penalties.

…winning the close games.

…etc.

Hard not to step in that giant pile of SHOULD.

Be nice to bag up all that Dawg SHOULD and win these last four games because they CAN.

These Cleveland Browns are far too talented to be covered in so much SHOULD.

Let’s hope to Dorsey this total SHOULD-fire gets put out this offseason.

Score Prediction: Browns 20, Bengals 13