:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57735367/usa_today_10321358.0.jpg)
For head coaches, "Battle of Ohio" has turned into "Battle for job security"
The Battle of Ohio between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals has devolved, unofficially, to two coaches battling for their jobs. The Browns, coached by Hue Jackson, are 0-10. The Bengals, coached by Marvin Lewis, are 4-6. Lewis is in the final year of his current contract.
Bengals: 3 keys to a win over the Cleveland Browns
Week 12 is still what most Bengals faithful thought it would be. Yes, it’s the Cleveland Browns marching into Paul Brown Stadium. But, the stakes are considerably higher than before. Suddenly, the Bengals and Browns have something to play for. Yeah, it’s always been a pride thing before. But, this time…it’s no joking matter. If Cincinnati wants to stay relevant in the playoff conversation, they need to take this game seriously.
Marvin Lewis: Browns are ‘much better football team now’ from first meeting
Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis is doing a good job selling his players on taking the winless Cleveland Browns seriously. After his Bengals thrashed Cleveland 31-7 back in Week 4 in FirstEnergy Stadium, the Browns’ biggest point margin of the season, he needed to reinforce just how different this Browns team will be on Sunday. In fact, the Browns are adding three recent first-round picks to the mix who all missed the first game.
Walkthru: Predicting Browns at Bengals
Finally, a weekend with the Bengals kicking off three straight games at home against the lowly Browns. You can probably imagine how the predictions will go, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be a few nervous moments at Paul Brown Stadium from an already nervous fan base. That’s why they sell beer. And mini-bourbon bottles.
Bengals don't want to become Browns' first-and-only
Nobody wants to be the Browns' first-and-only. Last season, it was the San Diego Chargers. They went to Cleveland and lost 20-17 in the second-to-last game of the season, the only team the Browns would beat.
Sunday's Browns-Bengals game could have been AJ McCarron Bowl
Quarterback AJ McCarron might have been -- probably should have been -- preparing to lead the Cleveland Browns against his former teammates on the Cincinnati Bengals this week. Instead, the Browns will have rookie DeShone Kizer at quarterback on Sunday when the visit Cincinnati, where McCarron will serve as Andy Dalton's backup. Cleveland and Cincinnati had a deal worked out with the NFL trade deadline approaching at 3 p.m. CDT Oct. 31 -- McCarron to the Browns for a second-round and a third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. But the execution of the trade was botched, and it never went through.
Weighing potential Cincinnati Bengals NFL playoff run in 2017
The fact we sit here on Thanksgiving weekend of this season gone sideways and discussing the playoff position of the Bengals almost feels wrong. Bengals fans know what playoff teams look like. Though they can’t speak as accurately about playoff-winning teams, six of the last eight seasons they watched playoff-level football.
Bengals RB Jeremy Hill: 'In many ways for myself 2017 feels like a bad dream'
Bengals running back Jeremy Hill said via his Instagram account that his ankle surgery was successful. The injury, which appeared to occur prior to the Bengals' game against the Jaguars, ended his season and might have ended his tenure in a Bengals uniform.
Top 50 Moments: Paul Brown Gets First Win over Cleveland
The Battle of Ohio kicked off in 1970 when the Bengals joined the AFC Central Division, along with Cleveland, Pittsburgh and the Houston Oilers. The first Bengals-Browns regular season game in Cincinnati on Nov. 15, 1970 drew the first home crowd of 60,000 in Bengals history (60,007 at Riverfront Stadium).
Injury report: Dennard looking like game-time call; Vinny, Shawn Williams out
It looks like for the second straight week the Bengals are faced with another game-time decision when it comes to one of the cornerbacks they use frequently. Darqueze Dennard (knee), the slot corner who played so well on the outside last week in Denver, practiced Friday for the first time this week but was listed as limited and questionable.
His Honor returns to walk across the eras
Reggie Williams is pretty certain he’s the only player in Super Bowl history to be announced as a councilman as well as an outside linebacker. He was so shocked to hear it as he ran on to the field before Super Bowl XXIII that his only response had to be from his massive heart.
Which is vintage Williams, anyway. He played 206 games for the Bengals with his heart on his sleeve and his body everywhere else.
Bengals Blitz: Salute to Service, Canned Food Drive, Pro Bowl Vote
The Bengals will honor veterans and military members during the team’s annual “Salute to Service” game this Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. The Bengals will host 1000 military members and their families as part of an ongoing partnership with Armed Forces Tickets Association (AFTA). Military members will be introduced alongside players as they take the field during pregame introductions. They will remain on the field with the players during the national anthem. A giant American flag will be unfurled by 120 members of the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy.
Bengals Blitz: Salute to Service, Canned Food Drive, Pro Bowl Vote
The Bengals will honor veterans and military members during the team’s annual “Salute to Service” game this Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. The Bengals will host 1000 military members and their families as part of an ongoing partnership with Armed Forces Tickets Association (AFTA). Military members will be introduced alongside players as they take the field during pregame introductions. They will remain on the field with the players during the national anthem. A giant American flag will be unfurled by 120 members of the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy.
AFC North Bytes
DeShone Kizer says AJ McCarron pursuit is in rearview mirror as he tries to prove himself to Browns and teammates
DeShone Kizer admitted earlier this month that the Browns' pursuit of Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron meant he had to step up his game. But as the Browns head to Cincinnati to face the Bengals on Sunday for the first time since that failed trade, Kizer has bigger fish to fry, and McCarron is in his rearview mirror. "That's way back then,'' Kizer said of the deal that fell apart right at the 4 p.m. deadline on Halloween. "I'm here. I'm the starting quarterback, and I look forward to doing whatever I can to continue to gain the respect of my teammates and this organization so that I can stay in this position as long as I can."
Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant Fantasy Outlook After JuJu Smith-Schuster Injury
The Pittsburgh Steelers' wide receiver depth chart will experience a major shakeup in Week 12 after rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster was ruled out Friday. According to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Smith-Schuster will not play in Sunday night's game against the Green Bay Packers due to a hamstring injury.
'When the ball is in the air, that’s our ball': Effort fuels Ravens' drive for interceptions
n 2011, Brandon Carr was a member of a Kansas City Chiefs team that finished tied for sixth in the NFL in interceptions with 20. Three years later, the cornerback helped the Dallas Cowboys tie for seventh in the league with 18. Now that he’s part of a Ravens defense that leads the NFL with 16 picks, Carr said he can point to one quality in common.
Random Bytes
Jay Cutler Ruled Out vs. Patriots with Concussion
Miami Dolphins quarterback Jay Cutler won't play Sunday against the New England Patriots due to a concussion he suffered in Week 11 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald reported the news. It's been a rough first year for Cutler in South Florida, as the 34-year-old also missed Week 8 with cracked ribs.
LA Chargers Emerging as Hottest Team in Muddled AFC Playoff Race
The Los Angeles Chargers made it official Thanksgiving Thursday in Dallas. Regardless of their still-sub-.500 record, their dominant performance in a 28-6 victory over the Cowboys confirms that the Chargers are a playoff-caliber team and a legitimate contender in the wide-open AFC.
Chris Simms' Week 12 NFL Picks
There is something special about having NFL football on Thanksgiving Day. I usually don't like Thursday games, but Thanksgiving is different. I was lucky enough to be a part of two Thanksgiving games. I was with the Denver Broncos when we hosted the New York Giants in 2009, and I was with the Tennessee Titans when we traveled to take on the Detroit Lions the year before. Both games came with a wonderful holiday atmosphere and an incredible sense of honor.