Browns Vs. Bengals Preview: 3 Things To Know As The Browns Travel To Cincinnati

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio The Browns will wrap up the 2023 season against the same team they started with the Bengals.

The Browns dominated the initial matchup in Cleveland in Week 1, 24-3. They will meet again this coming Sunday in Cincinnati in Week 18.

While the Browns are locked into the fifth seed in the AFC after a 37-20 win vs. the Jets on Thursday night, the Bengals were eliminated after a 25-17 loss in Kansas City in Week 17.

Here are three things to know about the Bengals heading into the rematch.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1741614268196495511?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1741614268196495511%7Ctwgr%5E432360b1691a6f8e7bdc87fb710fb3f03c939277%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cleveland.com%2Fbrowns%2F2024%2F01%2Fbrowns-vs-bengals-preview-3-things-to-know-as-the-browns-travel-to-cincinnati.html

1. The Jake Browning magic has worn off

When Joe Burrow was lost for the season due to a wrist injury in Week 11 in Baltimore, the Bengals’ season looked like it was over. Then came Jake Browning and a three-game winning streak that had Cincinnati believing it could sneak into the playoffs.

However, the magic has worn off in the last two weeks. The Bengals were blown out in Pittsburgh, 34-11, in Week 16 before losing in Kansas City on Sunday.

Browning has thrown just two touchdown passes compared to three interceptions in those two losses.

Browning gave the Bengals a brief spark and hope. But the hope is gone, and his play wasn’t enough to keep the team afloat without Burrow.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1741604235790430268?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1741604235790430268%7Ctwgr%5E432360b1691a6f8e7bdc87fb710fb3f03c939277%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cleveland.com%2Fbrowns%2F2024%2F01%2Fbrowns-vs-bengals-preview-3-things-to-know-as-the-browns-travel-to-cincinnati.html

2. The Bengals have major problems against the pass

The Bengals had plenty of turnover in the secondary this season, saying goodbye to both Vonn Bell and Jessie Bates III. They tried to rely on youth in the secondary and it has not worked well for them.

Going into Sunday’s game in Kansas City, the Bengals were ranked 28th against the pass (256.1 yards per game) and dead last in net yards allowed per pass attempt (7.1).

Only twice have the Bengals held a team to fewer than 200 yards passing, and one of those came against the Browns in an almost constant deluge of rain.

On Sunday, Patrick Mahomes avoided throwing an interception for the first time since Nov. 26 vs. the Raiders. He threw for 245 yards and a touchdown vs. the Bengals.

The youth movement in Cincinnati’s secondary just hasn’t worked the way it’s needed to, especially after the loss of Burrow.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1700957966583865643?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1700957966583865643%7Ctwgr%5E432360b1691a6f8e7bdc87fb710fb3f03c939277%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cleveland.com%2Fbrowns%2F2024%2F01%2Fbrowns-vs-bengals-preview-3-things-to-know-as-the-browns-travel-to-cincinnati.html

3. Cincinnati needs a win to avoid an AFC North 0-fer

A big reason that the Bengals will miss the playoffs this season outside of the Burrow injury is they have not won a single AFC North game.

They are one of only three other teams in the entire NFL without a divisional win, joining the Commanders and Cardinals. Worse yet for the Bengals, only two of those losses were decided by one possession.

Considering just more than a third of any team’s schedule is made up of divisional opponents, you simply have to at least be solid in the division to have a real playoff shot.

That didn’t happen for the Bengals.

Now they have to get a win vs. the Browns on Sunday to avoid going winless in the division for the first time since 2002. The good news for them is because the AFC North is out of reach for the Browns, this is an opportunity for them to rest some key players before the playoffs.