Predicting The Final Score Of Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals
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Raise your hand if you thought the Cleveland Browns would be playing for the AFC North division lead in Week 10. If for some reason your hand is raised, put it down — you’re a liar.
The Browns are sitting pretty with a 5-3 record with wins over the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints as they travel to Cincinnati to play the division-leading Cincinnati Bengals. Last week, the Bengals bullied the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars as they welcomed A.J. Green back from injury. Rookie running back Jeremy Hill stole the show in his first start of the season, rushing for 154 yards and a pair of scores.
Currently the division leaders, the Bengals will likely be without star running back Gio Bernard for the second straight week. Luckily, they will line up against a defense that allows 136 rushing yards per game and 4.8 yards per rush.
The Browns have been the beneficiary of a light schedule to this point, but impressive wins over quality opponents prove this team isn’t the cupcake squad NFL fans have grown accustomed to. The passing game has been a pleasant surprise as quarterback Brian Hoyer has taken care of the ball, and wide receiver Andrew Hawkins is on pace to break 1,000 receiving yards this season.
Cleveland’s committee of running backs have been successful, as Ben Tate and rookies Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell have combined to rush for an average of four yards per carry.
Both of these defenses have underperformed statistically, but the Browns have the luxury of lining up their best player across from Green. Last season, cornerback Joe Haden played lockdown coverage on the All-Pro receiver, limiting Green to a total of just 58 yards receiving in two games. In the second meeting between the teams in 2013, Haden snagged two interceptions and took one to the end zone.
When a pair of AFC North teams get together, things are bound to get messy. Expect a lot of sideline shots of Johnny Manziel and a close, sloppy game, but predicting an upset would be a mistake. The Browns haven’t won in Cincinnati since 2008, and the Bengals will continue the trend and find a way to win in prime time. I’ll take the Bengals in an entertaining game.
Prediction: Bengals 24, Browns 20
Brenden McLaughlin is a Baltimore Ravens writer for www.Rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter @b_maction or add him to your network on Google.
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