Overview
Cleveland and Cincinnati will meet for the second time this season in Week 14 to renew their in-state and divisional rivalry.
The Browns and Bengals last met in Week 8 in Cleveland, where the Browns won 32-13.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has yet to beat the Browns, as he is 0-4 against them, with the Browns having won eight of the last 10 matchups.
At 8-4, the Bengals sit behind the Ravens in second place in the AFC North due to tiebreakers. Cleveland is third in the division with a 5-7 record.
An in-state rivalry should make for an exciting game, and the playoff implications on the line should raise the stakes.
Cleveland Shakes Off the Rust
The Cleveland Browns won their second in a row when they defeated the Texans.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson returned in the matchup after an 11-game suspension.
Watson didn’t have the strongest return in his debut, finishing 12-for-22 for 131 yards and an interception.
Cleveland instead relied on its defense and special teams to lead the team to victory. The defense returned an interception and fumble recovery for two scores while a punt return also resulted in a touchdown.
Prior to Watson’s return, the Browns were led by quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who recorded 2,608 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions on a 64.1% completion percentage.
Brissett also led the Browns in their win over the Bengals in Week 8, finishing 17-for-22 for 278 yards and a touchdown.
Watson looked rusty upon his return, but he’ll need to play better against a stronger Bengals team.
Cincinnati Keeps Climbing
The Cincinnati Bengals won their fourth in a row, taking down the Chiefs.
Cincinnati lost to Cleveland on Halloween in Week 8, however the Bengals haven’t lost since.
The Bengals have scored over 25 points in three of their last four wins, averaging 31.5 points a game.
Against the Chiefs, Cincinnati finished with 431 yards, with 279 yards coming in the air.
The Bengals’ defense held Kansas City’s No. 1 offense to 349 yards, below its 423.3 average, and also sacked quarterback Patrick Mahomes twice.
Cincinnati failed to do much on offense in its first game against Cleveland, finishing with 13 points and 229 yards, but the Bengals were also missing top wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
Chase returned against the Chiefs, leading the receivers with seven receptions for 97 yards.
With the return of Chase, the Bengals will look to grab a long-awaited win against the rival Browns.
Cleveland vs Cincinnati Prediction
History isn’t on Cincinnati’s side in this matchup, however the Bengals should have the upper hand this time.
The Bengals are riding a four-game win streak on the tails of a top 10 offense, while the Browns struggled offensively in their win over the Texans.
Cleveland controlled the last matchup between the two, but with Chase back for the Bengals and the game at home, Burrow should pick up his first win against the Browns.
