The one thing I've noticed about Browns week is that it doesn't have that same in-state rivalry feeling it once had; not since the days when Paul Brown single-handedly pounded the emotion and motivation into his players. The first time the Bengals ever played the Browns, 83,520 fans watched in Cleveland. The Bengals, led by Virgil Carter and Speedy Thomas, took a 20-16 lead into the fourth quarter when Leroy Kelly and Bo Scott recorded one-yard touchdowns each, eventually beating Cincinnati 30-27. Virgil Carter, during the second meeting, threw for 123 yards and recorded a touchdown, while rushing nine times for 110 yards rushing. Paul Robinson (rushing) and Jess Phillips (receiving) each recorded touchdowns as the Bengals won 14-10. In the end, Paul Brown finished his Bengals head coaching with Cincinnati with a 6-6 record when coaching against the Browns. All but one loss was decided by a touchdown and seven of the 12 games were within seven points. The rivalry would remain strong, but when the Bengals started plummeting, so did the rivalry. When the Bengals came back to competitiveness with Marvin Lewis, the Browns won more than six games once (2007).

The Bengals natural rival is the Cleveland Browns, for many reasons. For one, the history. For two, geography. And the only reason that Pittsburgh has played the Bengals more, is because the Browns disappeared from 1996-1999. It's been a long time since the Bengals and Browns finished the same season with a winning record. In 1988, the Browns finished 10-6 while Cincinnati went 12-4 with a Super Bowl appearance.

Key #1. Don't let down. The thought of the week has been "Trap Game", or "Let Down game". The Bengals are coming off an emotion high against the Pittsburgh Steelers with the division leading Baltimore Ravens on tap next week. The fear is that the players could totally forgo worrying about the Browns, thinking it will an easy win over an inferior team on paper. If this rivalry were alive, that could only add to the emotional factor that the Browns would take advantage of while Cincinnati went into some conservative, don't make a mistake mode that seems to be the virus that kills most superior teams during headline-slamming upsets. Marvin Lewis felt the same thing. He knew that the potential was there. Instead of going through a typical week, Lewis decided last Sunday night to have the team practice in jerseys without numbers or names. In his mind, it reminds his players to be selfless.

Key #2. Don't just win. Win early. Win big. I'm like everyone else. A win is a win and we should be happy about that. If the Bengals play down to the Browns, and allow Cleveland to stay in the game late, the chances of Cincinnati winning dwindles. That's sort of what happened with Pittsburgh. They allowed us to stay in the game, giving the Bengals an opportunity to win the football game when they could have stepped on our throats in the first half. Sure, the Bengals are largely responsible for keeping themselves in the game. However, we were reeling in the first half, on our heels, just waiting to take a three touchdown deficit into half time. Either way, the Bengals can't be the Steelers. When Cincinnati gets into the RedZone, they have to score touchdowns.

Furthermore, the Browns are a team that are searching. They seem like the team Cincinnati put on the field in 2008. The Bengals have to win this game early. They have to win this game big. If they do, then they'll be noted as being "for real." If they don't, they run a big risk of losing this game, allowing the Browns to pick up confidence the longer that they're in it.

Key #3. Defense has to be strong. Offense has to breakout. This plays off the second key. There's a philosophical tone with the Bengals against the Browns. Cleveland has allowed 34 points to the Vikings, 27 points to the Broncos and 34 points to the Ravens. Cleveland leads the league in rushing touchdowns allowed. Cedric Benson had a career game against the Browns last year. Cincinnati has to put up points. In order to do that, they have to have their most complete game of the year. The rushing offense and passing offense has to be in sync, especially with the Ravens on tap in week five. With three games under his belt to shake the rust, Carson Palmer has to have his best game as does Chad Ochocinco and Laveranues Coles. Cedric Benson and the rushing offense (sounds like a band name, doesn't it?) have to set that tone by forcing the Browns secondary to single-cover the Bengals receivers; we'll dominate the passing game. In the past two games, the Browns defense has allowed an average 464 yards total. If the Bengals are going to compete against the better teams this year, they have to dominate winless teams that are immensely struggling.

Defensively, the Bengals should be focusing on Derek Anderson, who is 2-1 when starting against the Bengals. Even though Cincinnati allowed 328 yards passing and five touchdowns to Anderson in 2007, they came back to beat Anderson with four interceptions. In 2008, Anderson didn't have a particularly good day, but the Bengals had played their first game that year without Carson Palmer and we were in a state of "oh crap".

I believe if the game comes down to the end, then the Bengals defense will have to win this game. Other than drives in which the Bengals had to score, the offense has largely struggled, in terms of finishing drives. Sure, they can move the ball. But turnovers and penalties have badly stalled drives. There really is no better chance for the offense to completely breakout. Not only would it not surprise me if Palmer had 300 yards passing (three touchdowns) and Chad had 100 yards receiving with Benson's 100 yard rushing, it would disappoint me.

In conclusion: If the Bengals fail to win this game, then Cincinnati is back to square one. After three weeks of saying "if not for the fluke play, we'd be undefeated", the Bengals would have lost to the team that many observers call the worst NFL team this year. If the Bengals win, and do it barely, then questions will rise again about the legitimacy of the team's chances. In other words, if they barely beat the Browns, how can they compete against the conference best? I believe that the Bengals will win by at least two touchdowns. I think our defense is strong enough to keep the Browns from breaking out and I believe that our offense light the world afire.

Paul Brown's game-by-game record as Bengals head coach against the Cleveland Browns.

The NFL is celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness this weekend by allowing teams to wear pink uniform accessories, and naturally, Chad Ochocinco is all over the allowed uniform alteration, and then some.  According to the NFL's site, their support will last throughout October. 

Throughout October, NFL games will feature players, coaches and referees wearing pink game apparel to raise awareness for the campaign, as well as on-field pink ribbon stencils and special K-balls and pink coins. All apparel worn at games by players and coaches and special K-balls and pink coins will auctioned off at NFL Auction, with proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society and team charities.

Naturally, Ocho is taking this opportunity to go above and beyond, saying he'll be wearing his pink uniform accessories the entire month and will match any NFL fines with a donation to Breast Cancer Awareness fund. So yeah, more "look at me" isms from Chad, but at least this one is for a good cause.

Oh, and if any of you know who to get your hands on a pink mouthpiece and/or a pink chinstrap, send Chad a tweet because he's having trouble finding them.

Browns starting (former) Quarterback Brady Quinn played for ten quarters, completed 45 of 74 passes for 400 yards passing, a touchdown and three interceptions (pass rating of 62.9). Quinn was tasked with playing three tough defenses in the NFL; Minnesota (4th overall defense), Denver (1st overall defense) and Baltimore (7th overall defense). The excuse didn't save him.

Dawgs by Nature writes that the Cleveland Browns have named Derek Anderson the starting quarterback against the Cincinnati Bengals this weekend. I do appreciate that SB Nation takes the same view that we take. We should be 3-0. But whatever.

As we wrote in the Primer, Anderson is 2-1 when starting against the Cincinnati Bengals with a passer rating of 82.9.

There are too many things that could come out of Sunday's game with a win to just ignore. If the Bengals win:

• ...there's a chance they could be tied for first place in the AFC North standings; provided that the Cleveland Browns beat the Ravens in Baltimore (what are the chances of that?). Even then, the Bengals would be the de facto leaders in the division with a better division record.
• ...Bengals fans will start buying up tickets -- I made the prediction earlier in the week that if the Bengals beat the Steelers this Sunday and then the Browns on the road, that Paul Brown Stadium will be sold out the rest of the season.
• ...it will end a seven-game losing streak when playing Pittsburgh at Paul Brown Stadium.
• If the Bengals beat the Steelers this Sunday, and do it with a nastiness that the Bengals need to compete in this division, a whole new era of Bengals football could emerge.
• ...the Bengals will start the season 2-1 (or better) for only the sixth time since 1990 -- the other seasons being 2006 (3-0), 2005 (3-0), 2001 (2-1), 1995 (2-1), 1992 (2-1).

However, there's the other side. If the Bengals allow Pittsburgh to run them over, like they did twice last year (38-10 and 27-10), then Bengals fans will implode. Many will shy away from the explosive win that brought waves of optimism to this team after beating the heavily favored Green Bay Packers. If the Browns beat the Ravens (and who actually expects that to happen?), the Bengals could be all alone in last place, by way of division record. The Steelers will win their eighth straight game in Cincinnati, questioning the Bengals motivation (again) when defending their home turf.

Speaking in more detail, the Bengals have lost seven consecutive games when playing at home against Pittsburgh Steelers. It's been bad. The Bengals have been outscored 182-84 during that span and the margin of defeat is 14 points per game.

* Record before the game.

The last time the Bengals beat the Steelers in Cincinnati, Pittsburgh came into the 2001 game, 12-1. Jon Kitna threw for 411 yards passing on 68 attempts (completed 35), recording two touchdowns. Peter Warrick caught 10 passes for 109 yards. Darnay Scott caught seven passes for 113 yards. Corey Dillon rushed 21 times for 91 yards. Former Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart threw four interceptions (two picks by Kevin Kaesviharn). Plaxico Burress and Hines Ward combined for 11 receptions for 152 yards receiving and Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala rushed 25 times for 55 yards.

In other words, it's been a long time.

So what has to has to happen for the Bengals to win; some of them you can call The Obvious.

Continue reading this post »

Right number, wrong team

This little nugget of information is making it's way around the Twittersphere right now, just in time to get you pumped up for the Green Bay Packers.  If he scores on Sunday, Chad Ochocinco says he's going to do the Lambeau Leap, and that it won't be a disrespectful display, rather, he'd like Packers fans to embrace him.  While this will  be viewed by some as a continuation of Ocho's incessant demand for attention, I'm honestly starting to believe he does these things with honest intentions.

That is, he honestly doesn't see anything wrong with embracing fans, and some of the traditions they have when he travels to opposing stadiums.  The Cleveland Browns leap from two seasons ago comes to mind.

Considering Pack fans don't hold the a Favre-like level of animosity towards Chad, I'd say he's safe.  However, if it's a game-winning touchdown (I'm so tempted to say "Yeah, right" here.  Damn you, Brandon Stokley.), I'd probably avoid it.  Even in Green Bay.

While Cincinnati has never kicked off a preseason against the New Orleans, the Bengals have played the Saints seven times. The Bengals have lost six of those games (an active losing streak), last beating the Saints on in 1975 in a 20-0 shutout.

You might remember the last time the two teams met. A bloody nose was made famous. When I reviewed that game a second time, I noted that while a lot of the failure was protection, it was in large part a combination of offensive schemes (sending five receivers into routes) and good defensive strategy on New Orleans part overloading one side for a heavy blitz. The third preseason game, which is when last year's match-up took place, is typically the dress rehearsal; first team plays the first half and sometimes deep into the third quarter. During last year's dress rehearsal against New Orleans, the Bengals started the game punting ten consecutive times before Jordan Palmer threw a pick to the end the game in a shutout (0-13). Talk about preseason forecasting the regular season.

Several players will be out tonight; which includes Dan Santucci, Ben Utecht, David Jones, Brandon Johnson, Evan Mathis, Antonio Chatman and Pernell Phillips. Rey Maualuga was deemed questionable earlier in the week.

Carson Palmer is expected to take between 12-15 snaps. All running backs on the team will get a chance to play Friday. Most likely Benson will get a few snaps to start, then the team will rotate the rest to get a good look. All spots on the roster -- such as backup running back, third down back -- are up in the air, says head coach Marvin Lewis.

As for Cincy Jungle, an open thread will appear about 15-30 minutes before kickoff. I won't be around at the start, but should file in somewhere in the first quarter.

In case you didn't know, Chad Johnson won't play tonight.

Moving on.

NFL Films (via NFL.com) reminds us that the Steelers 38-10 win over the Bengals, wasn't the beating that the score indicated; remembering seven points on a necessary 16-yard touchdown pass with two minutes left in the game for a 28-point lead (dude, Barbaro is dead... all right). They write after watching the coaches tape, that "it's clear that Thursday night's score won't be as gruesome as you might think."

In truth, the Bengals defense was spotty early in the season, got really bad against the Texans, but generally improved against the Jaguars and Eagles during their undefeated in November string, allowing less than four years per rush, and less than six yards per pass. Though not really impressive, it's not just the yards they're referencing; NFL Films documents two plays of a 17-10 Steelers lead heading into the fourth quarter that changed the complexion of the game.

After Lawrence Timmons sacked Ryan Fitzpatrick, forcing the Bengals to punt, Ben Roethlisberger completed a 50-yard touchdown pass that "broke the game open". They write:

1. Nickel cornerback Geoffrey Pope, the rookie that Washington ran by, is no longer on Cincinnati's active roster.
2. The Bengals did not blitz on the play and Roethlisberger had a clean pocket.
3. With plenty of time to throw, the Steelers were able to get multiple receivers deep, putting free safety Chinedum Ndukwe in a conflict.

They make an additional point, after watching the Eagles tape.

1. The Bengals are blitzing more and blitzing better.
2. Their nickel corner is no longer rookie Geoffrey Pope but rather veteran Jamar Fletcher.

I believe, for a chance to win, the Bengals will need to stop Willie Parker and create turnovers to give the offense good field position. We're not going to drive 10 plays, 80 yards on the Steelers defense; I'm as much a homer as anyone, but I'm also realistic. However, if we create turnovers, specifically on their side of the field, the Bengals can cash those gifts as field goals, if not touchdowns. OK, field goals.

NFL Films isn't taking other things into account, like injuries, rookies and three days rest after a gruesome 75-minute football game that ended in an Eagles-wrecking tie. So take it as it is. Will the Bengals play like they have nothing to lose, or will the sudden Chad Johnson distraction take center stage? Yes. If you looking for positives, well, that's a start.

Critically speaking, I believe there's no bigger matchup on Sunday than the Titan's defensive line, and the Bengals offensive line. Kyle Vanden Bosch recorded the Titans' only sack in last year's 35-6 win over Tennessee, that led to a fumble and a missed 26-yard field goal by the normally always automatic Shayne Graham.

But this year, the Titan's defense is better.

Last week, Titans defensive tackles Albert Haynesworth and Tony Brown recorded two sacks each -- four of the team's seven sacks last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Vanden Bosch recorded a sack, and Stacy Andrews will have to contend with Jevon Kearse's 69.5 career sacks. James Jones (a backup to Vanden Bosch) and Kevin Vickerson (a backup to Haynesworth) also recorded sacks respectively.

If the Bengals can't allow Palmer to sit comfortably in the pocket, for more than three seconds, the Bengals haven't a chance. Eric Ghiaciuc and the Bengals running backs will be critical for the success of the team's pass protection, helping Andrew Whitworth and Bobbie Williams on both defensive tackles. More so, the Bengals offense will need to address the defensive ends and help out Andrews and Jones. At the very least, Reggie Kelly should be in a majority of the team's passing plays, assisting one side while a running back helps the other; at least chipping the pass rusher before going out into routes.

The offensive line, right now, is under a microscope. And if they keep Palmer clean, and open up lanes for a passable rushing offense, it should help bring some credibility and respectability among the team's offensive line; especially this week.