Cleveland Browns 2022 opponent preview: Cincinnati Bengals

The Cleveland Browns will host the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8. Here’s a preview of the showdown between the in-state rivals.

The Cleveland Browns have a tough stretch of games coming up from Week 5 through Week 8. After playing a rather softy opening, they play the Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens, and Cincinnati Bengals during that stretch.

There is a silver lining for them, however, as three of these games are at home — the trip to Baltimore in Week 7 being the lone exception. Should the Browns navigate this stretch and come out at least 2-2, they could be set up nicely heading into the bye week.

Here at DPD, we have been digging into the schedule for Cleveland, and today, we focus on that Week 8 matchup as they end their tough stretch with a Monday Night Football showdown with the defending AFC Champions.

Bengals 2021 season

The Cincinnati Bengals made a huge leap in 2021 and it started with a bold selection in the NFL Draft. While everyone thought they needed to add Penei Sewell to shore up their offensive line, Cincinnati elected to take Ja’Marr Chase — reuniting him with his LSU teammate Joe Burrow.

While the O-line was still a mess, the Bengals offense was electric. Chase won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award and they rode their high-powered passing attack all the way to the Super Bowl. They nearly upset the Los Angeles Rams as well but as fate would have it, poor blocking doomed them as Burrow was unable to get a fourth-down pass down the field — which is where a wide-open Chase was running.

Key offseason moves

Cincinnati had a great offseason, adding Ted Karras at center, Alex Cappa at right guard, and La’el Collins at right tackle. These additions suddenly give their offensive line some credibility, which could have been the difference for them in the Super Bowl last season.

On top of that, the Bengals also brought in Dax Hill from Michigan with their first pick in the draft, which shores up their secondary as well.

When do the teams meet?

The Bengals and Browns meet in Cleveland on Monday Night Football in Week 8 (Oct. 31). The game is set for 8:15 pm EST.

Last time the Cleveland Browns played Cincinnati

The Browns beat Cincinnati twice last season, including a 21-16 win in Week 18. That one was a battle of reserves as the Bengals had the divisions wrapped up and the Browns were without Baker Mayfield.

The meeting before that is the one that mattered and Cleveland won it going away. Hyped up by a 99-yard pick-six from Denzel Ward, the Browns defense held Joe Burrow and the Bengals to just 16 points in a 41-16 beating.

From there, the two teams went in opposite directions but it’s still been quite a while since the Browns have lost to their in-state rival.

Player to watch

The player to watch for when these teams face off is Ja’Marr Chase. He’s a deep threat who can change the course of a game in one play.

Thankfully, the Browns have the depth in the secondary to deal with him, but they cannot let up for even one play, or he will make them pay.