NFL Week 14 Primer: Cincinnati Bengals (1-11) at Cleveland Browns (5-7)

The Bengals are coming into Sunday’s game hot off a win. It may be their first win of the season, but it is still a relieving feeling for players and fans to avoid an 0-16 mark. They will be facing the Browns in Cleveland, who aren’t quite as excited as the Bengals currently are.

Cleveland lost last week to the Steelers in a game that was crucial for the Browns to stay in the Wild Card race. Sitting at 5-7, they now have zero room for error the rest of the way. It was especially disappointing considering how beat up Pittsburgh was, and the fact Cleveland had just defeated them handily a few weeks earlier. Can they return to their winning ways?

The Bengals could potentially be putting the final nail in the Browns’ playoffs hopes this week if they can repeat their performance from last Sunday against the Jets. Andy Dalton returning as the team’s starter really gave the offense a much needed boost, and the defense continued to look like a completely different group than what we saw the first eight weeks of the year. Was that just the magic of Dalton’s return, or is this what we should expect from the Bengals moving forward?

Everything you need to know for when the Bengals take on the Browns:

Game: Cincinnati Bengals (1-11) at Cleveland Browns (5-7)

Date/Time: Dec. 8th, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. EST

Location: FirstEnergy Stadium Cleveland, Ohio

Series Leader: The Bengals lead the series at 50-41

Streak: The Bengals have won the seven of the past nine games, but the Browns have won the last two meetings

Coaches vs. Opponent: Zac Taylor: (0-0). Freddie Kitchens (0-0)

Television: The game will air on CBS-TV. In Cincinnati, it will be carried by WKRC-TV (Ch. 12). Broadcasters are Beth Mowins (play-by-play) and Tiki Barber (analyst).

Radio: Radio: The game will air on the Bengals Radio Network, led by Cincinnati flagship stations WLW-AM (700), WCKY-AM (ESPN 1530; all sports) and WEBN-FM (102.7). Broadcasters are Dan Hoard (play-by-play) and Dave Lapham (analyst).

SB Nation Browns’ site: Dawgs by Nature

Weather: Mid 30’s, mostly cloudy [NFL weather]

Odds: Bengals, +3.5 [Odds Shark]

Bengals Notes

• Quarterback Andy Dalton passed for 243 yards with a touchdown for a 88 passer rating last week. He has 198 career touchdown passes and surpassed Ken Anderson (197) for most in franchise history. He has passed for eight touchdowns and no interceptions for a 137.7 passer rating in his past three games on road at Cleveland.
• Running back Joe Mixon had 70 scrimmage yards (44 rushing and 26 receiving) with a rushing touchdown last week. He aims for his third in a row on road with at least 75 scrimmage yards and a touchdown. He has 398 scrimmage yards (132.7 per game) and a rushing touchdown in his past three games against the Browns. Needs 77 scrimmage yards to become the third running back in franchise history with at least 900 scrimmage yards in each of his first three seasons.
• Wide receiver Tyler Boyd had five catches for 59 yards and a touchdown last week. He aims for his third in a row overall and third in a row against Cleveland with a receiving touchdown. Wide receiver Auden Tate had a team-high 66 receiving yards in Week 13. Tight end C.J. Uzomah had five catches for 51 yards last week. He had a touchdown catch in his last meeting with the Browns.
• Defensive end Carlos Dunlap tied his career high with three sacks and had a pass deflection last week. He aims for his third in a row with a sack and a pass deflection. He had a pass deflection in the last meeting. He is one of three defenders in the NFL with at least 40 tackles and five sacks in each of the past eight seasons. Defensive tackle Geno Atkins (75.5) and Dunlap (78) are the only pair of active teammates each with at least 75 career sacks. Defensive end Sam Hubbard aims for his third in a row with a sack. Corner back William Jackson III led the team with career-high 10 tackles in Week 13. Safety Jessie Bates III aims for his fourth in a row on the road with a pass deflection.

Browns Notes

• Quarterback Baker Mayfield passed for 196 yards with a touchdown last week. He has eight touchdowns without an interception for a 104.6 passer rating in his past three games at home. He passed for 542 yards (271 per game) with seven touchdowns and no interceptions for a 135.8 passer rating in two career games against the Bengals. He has 95.8 passer rating in eight career games against the AFC North.
• Running back Nick Chubb had 79 scrimmage yards (58 rushing and 21 receiving) last week. He has rushed for 532 yards (106.4 per game) and three touchdowns in his past five games at home. He has 243 scrimmage yards (121.5 per game) and two touchdowns (one rushing and one receiving) in two career games against the Cincinnati. He is one of two running backs in the AFC (Derrick Henry) with at least 900 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns in each of the past two seasons.
• Wide receiver Jarvis Landry led the team with six catches for 76 yards in Week 13. He aims for fourth in a row at home with a receiving touchdown. He is one of two in the NFL with at least 900 receiving yards and four touchdown catches in each of the past five seasons. Wide receiver Odell Beckham had 10 catches for 97 yards and a touchdown in his only career game against the Bengals (11/14/16 with the Giants). Wide receiver Demetrius Harris had a touchdown catch in his last home meeting.
• Linebacker Joe Schobert had seven tackles last week. He aims for his third in a row at home with an interception. Linebacker Mack Wilson had a team-high eight tackles and a forced fumble last week. He has a pass deflections in two of his past three games against the AFC North. Cornerback Terrance Mitchell had his first interception of the season in Week 13.