Game: Cleveland Browns (9-5) at Cincinnati Bengals (5-9)
Series Leader: Series tied at 34.
Streak: Bengals, six of the past nine.
Coaches vs. Opponent: Lewis: 6-3. Crennel: 1-4.
Broadcast: CBS (1:00 PM ET): Greg Gumbel, Dan Dierdorf. SIRIUS: 140 (Cle.), 119 (Cin.). Direct TV: 708. Direct TV HD: 721
SB Nation: Dawgs by Nature
NFL.com: Game Center
Weather: Few snow showers (30%). High 37. [Weather.com]
Uniform: Black
Inactive/Out: RB Rudi Johnson (hamstring)
It was said: Chris Mortensen said, on ESPN's Sunday Countdown while talking about coaches on the hot seat: "The Bengals' Marvin Lewis is under contract until 2010. But league and team sources say that Lewis wants a serious change in the front office and personnel departments. That could force a showdown with owner/President Mike Brown. He is safe for now."
PERSONNEL UPDATE: Madieu Williams and Dexter Jackson OUT! Marvin White and Chinedum Ndukwe will start.
The Bengals will play without their starting safeties, strong safety Dexter Jackson and free safety Madieu Williams, both of whom are inactive because of injuries. Rookies Marvin White and Chinedum Ndukwe will start. Tailback Rudi Johnson is out, as well, with a hamstring injury. Kenny Watson will start. Right tackle Willie Anderson is active for the first time since October but will not start. Backup linebacker Anthony Schlegel is inactive, along with offensive lineman Dan Santucci, tight end Nate Lawrie and defensive end Frostee Rucker.
[Curnutte's Blog]
Anderson active, but not starting
With winds expected to swirl in gusts of more than 40 miles per hour Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium, the Bengals saddled up for a smashmouth game against playoff hopeful Cleveland with four-time Pro Bowl right tackle Willie Anderson but without their two starting safeties. Anderson, who has missed the last eight games with a knee injury, wasn't listed as the starter.
[Bengals.com]
Bengals.
OUT: RB Rudi Johnson (hamstring)
DOUBTFUL: S Madieu Williams (quadricep)
QUESTIONABLE: T Willie Anderson (knee), S Dexter Jackson (calf)
PROBABLE: G Stacy Andrews (knee), WR Chris Henry (ankle), CB Deltha O'Neal (illness), DT Domata Peko (ankle)
Browns.
PROBABLE: CB Leigh Bodden (back), LB Antwan Peek (ankle), DE Orpheus Roye (knee), DE Robaire Smith (back), DE Shaun Smith (back)
Starters: (not official)
(D, Doubtful... Q, Questionable)
| POS. | Projected |
| QB | Palmer |
| RB | K.Watson |
| FB | J.Johnson |
| WR | C. Johnson |
| WR | Houshmandzadeh |
| TE | Kelly |
| LT | Jones |
| LG | Whitworth |
| C | Ghiaciuc |
| RG | Williams |
| RT | Andrews |
| POS | D |
| LE | Geathers |
| DT | Thornton |
| DT | Peko |
| RE | Smith |
| WB | D.Jones |
| MB | L.Johnson |
| SB | R.Jeanty |
| SS | Jackson |
| FS | Williams |
| CB | Joseph |
| CB | Hall |