Browns (4-2) at Bengals (1-4-1)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati
TV: CBS
Danny Sheridan’s line: Browns by 3 1⁄
2
Browns’ keys to victory: Keeping Joe Burrow off the field with a dominant rushing attack is the play. In a 35-30 win in Week 2, RB Nick Chubb rumbled for 124 yards and two scores on a 5.6-yard average. And RB Kareem Hunt put up 86 yards and a score on 10 carries. Even RB D’Ernest Johnson has broken out in recent weeks. Leaning on the available stable of backs means less time for Burrow and fewer hits on QB Baker Mayfield.
Bengals’ keys to victory: Get the ball out faster and to a diverse cast, including RB Joe Mixon out of the backfield and WRs Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins. (Mixon’s status is clouded by a potential foot injury.) Throwing 61 passes like Burrow did in Week 2 isn’t as problematic as the seemingly endless hits he’s been taking. Getting the ball in the hands of his playmakers and letting them do the heavy lifting is a must against a Myles Garrett-led rush.
Matchup to watch: Browns QB Baker Mayfield vs. Bengals S Jessie Bates. Bates is one of the league’s emerging stars at safety, but he couldn’t stop a 43-yard touchdown to Browns WR Odell Beckham Jr. in Week 2. Using his range and skill, Bates needs to force Mayfield into mistakes and not get lulled into mistakes of his own because of a strong Browns running game.
Who wins? The Browns are exceeding expectations and have an offense capable of exploiting a hobbled Bengals defense. Burrow’s bursts will keep things close, but Cleveland is in position to sweep the Battle of Ohio.
Browns, 28-24