3 big storylines to watch as Browns try and tame Bengals

No. 2: Which team will have the rushing advantage?

On paper, this question heavily favors the Browns, but that might not necessarily be the case. In Cincinnati’s Week 13 victory over Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, the Bengals rushed for 152 yards, which helped keep the former Super Bowl MVP off the field long enough to secure a win.

Samaje Perine led the way in the absence of Joe Mixon to the tune of 109 yards. Mixon could be back this week and that could spell bad news for Cleveland who has struggled against the run this season but has turned it around over the last two games.

The Browns’ running game has been up and down over the last month, but against the Texans, they rushed for 174 yards, led by Nick Chubb’s 80 on 17 carries. In eight career games vs the Bengals, Chubb has rushed for 763 yards and eight touchdowns and has gone over the 100-yard plateau in three of the last four meetings.

One X-factor of this game could be Kareem Hunt, who is coming off arguably his best game of the season, rushing for 56 yards on nine carries. He finally looked more like himself and that benefitted the Browns.

Whichever team can gain the rushing advantage could very well go on to win this game and potentially the division.