THREE POINTS TO CONSIDER AS THE BROWNS TRAVEL TO CINCINNATI.
Ohio’s Cleveland The Bengals, who the Browns began the season with, will be their opponent in the season’s finale in 2023.
In Week 1, the Browns won 24-3 in their first meeting in Cleveland. This Sunday, in Week 18, they will square off once more in Cincinnati.
After a 37-20 victory against the Jets on Thursday night, the Browns secured the fifth spot in the AFC, while the Bengals were eliminated in Week 17 following a 25-17 loss in Kansas City.
Before the rematch, here are three things to know about the Bengals.
1. The allure of Jake Browning has faded
The Bengals’ season appeared to be over when Joe Burrow suffered a wrist injury in Week 11 against Baltimore, forcing him to miss the remainder of the year. After a three-game winning streak led by Jake Browning, Cincinnati started to think it would make the playoffs.
But in the last two weeks, the enchantment has faded. The Bengals lost on Sunday in Kansas City after being humiliated 34-11 in Pittsburgh during Week 16.
In those two losses, Browning has only completed two touchdown passes to three interceptions.
Browning provided a momentary spark and optimism for the Bengals. But with the absence of Burrow, the squad could not survive on his skill alone, and the optimism is gone.
2. The Bengals struggle mightily when it comes to pass defense.
With the departure of Vonn Bell and Jessie Bates III, the Bengals had significant upheaval in the secondary this season. It has not been successful for them to rely on youngsters in the secondary.
The Bengals were dead last in net yards allowed per pass attempt (7.1) and rated 28th defending the pass (256.1 yards per game) heading into Sunday’s game in Kansas City.
The Bengals have just once prevented a club from throwing for 200 yards or less—against the Browns in an almost nonstop downpour.
For the first time since the game against the Raiders on November 26, Patrick Mahomes did not intercept a pass on Sunday. Against the Bengals, he completed 245 yards and one touchdown pass.
Particularly since Burrow’s passing, the youth movement in Cincinnati’s secondary hasn’t been as successful as it could have been.
3. In order to prevent an AFC North 0–fer, Cincinnati must win.
Outside of the Burrow injury, the Bengals’ inability to win an AFC North game is a major factor in why they won’t make the playoffs this year.
Add the Commanders and Cardinals to the list of just three clubs in the NFL without a divisional victory. What’s worse for the Bengals is that just two of those defeats came down to a single play.
You just have to be strong in the division to have a genuine shot at the playoffs, as divisional opponents make up little over one-third of any team’s schedule.
The Bengals didn’t experience that.
In order to avoid losing in the division for the first time since 2002, they must now defeat the Browns on Sunday. The good news is that they have the chance to rest some important players before the playoffs because the Browns cannot win the AFC North.
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