Browns at Bengals: 4 things to know about Sunday’s Battle of Ohio

The Bengals still need a little more help, but first, they need to take care of their own business with wins over their last three games. That pursuit continues Sunday when they host the Cleveland Browns in the “Battle of Ohio” at Paycor Stadium. Cincinnati (6-8) carries the momentum of a two-game winning streak, while Cleveland (3-11) hobbles in on a three-game skid.

Here are four things to know about the game:

1. Going for the sweep

The Bengals have a chance to sweep the Browns for the first time since 2017, as Joe Burrow seeks just his third career win over the in-state rivals. He is 2-5 against Cleveland since he became the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2020, and Cincinnati is 4-7 in the series since coach Zac Taylor arrived in 2019 – with the Browns owning two sweeps.

When the Bengals beat the Browns, 21-14, on Oct. 20 in Cleveland, it was Burrow’s first road win in the series. Cincinnati has won three of the last four meetings, including a home victory last year when the Browns were resting starters for the playoffs in the season finale and Jake Browning led the Bengals to a 31-14 win while Burrow was out due to wrist surgery.

Burrow said he’s just focused on going “1-0 this week,” but the Bengals need to complete this sweep to keep their playoff hopes alive.

This also is a homecoming for Browns linebacker Jordan Hicks, who graduated from Lakota West in 2010 and went on to play at Texas before the Philadelphia Eagles took him in the third round of the 2015 draft. This is his first season in Cleveland, but fourth time playing the Bengals, third time in Cincinnati, where he is still active in his home community through his foundation, True Strength Ability Awareness, to raise funds and empower local Special Education departments.

Credit: AP

Credit: AP

2. Chase closing in on more records

Chase already holds one franchise record, which he claimed his rookie season in 2021 when he racked up 1,455 yards receiving, but he has a chance to break that Sunday and is closing in on two other single-season standards as he sits at 102 catches, 1,413 yards and 15 touchdowns.

This is his second time going over 100 receptions, but he’s aiming to break T.J. Houshmandzadeh’s record of 117 in 2007 when he became the first and only other Bengals player to reach 100 receptions. Carl Pickens, in 1995, established the touchdown record at 17, so Chase needs just three to break that over the next three games.

Standing in his way is a Browns defense that lost cornerback Greg Newsome to injured reserve this week and that could be missing another corner with Martin Emerson questionable coming back from concussion protocols.

The Browns allow just 212.7 yards through the air, ranking as the 11th best pass defense in the league, a nod to their Myles Garrett-led pass rush and good coverage on the back end. Chase said Newsome’s absence won’t impact how Cleveland attacks him because Newsome mainly played nickel against the Bengals, but Denzel Ward remains one of the best he has faced.

“He’s just mad patient, you know what I’m saying?” Chase said. “By far, he’s one of the best cornerbacks I’ve played against and just been around in the league so far. He just always been the same, ever since I played him. He’s got the same technique, slow feet (keeps his footwork steady), you know, he got good hips, too, so he knows how to play a ball in the air. So, I mean, he’s all around, good corner, great work.”

3. Key changes in Browns offense

The last time these teams met, the Bengals ended up seeing all three quarterbacks after Deshaun Watson tore his Achilles and then-backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson injured his finger making a tackle following his second pick. With four minutes left, the Browns had to turn to emergency quarterback Jameis Winston, who then started the next seven games before coach Kevin Stefanski decided to make the change to Thompson-Robinson this week.

Thompson-Robinson, a fifth-round draft pick of the Browns last year, completed just 11 of 24 passes (45.8 percent) for 82 yards and no touchdowns in that Oct. 20 matchup in Cleveland and doesn’t have much NFL experience, but Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo said he’s “not sleeping on anybody.” He expects plenty of quarterback-designed runs, especially with Nick Chubb out.

Chubb broke his foot last week, and he had just returned from 2023 knee surgery when the first “Battle of Ohio” matchup was played. Now, the Browns will lean on Jerome Ford, who had 84 yards and a touchdown in a 21-7 loss to Kansas City last week.

“He’s got speed, he’s good out of the backfield,” Anarumo said of Ford. “They’ve got quality depth there. I think (D’Onta) Foreman is probably the next guy in. I’m not sure. We’ll see how that goes, but big back there. But Ford is a quality back in our league, so he’s got great speed as he’s shown the week before. But we’ve played him before and our guys respect everything about his game.”

Credit: AP

Credit: AP

4. Other injuries of note

The Bengals will be without Sheldon Rankins (illness) another week, and Sam Hubbard (knee) is likely out for the remainder of the season. On top of that, tight end Tanner Hudson had a knee injury pop up this week as well and he is out.

Tee Higgins also had a knee issue surface on the injury report this week but the Bengals have continued managing his practice time and he is good to go Sunday. Orlando Brown Jr. (fibula) remains questionable, along with Alex Cappa (concussion) and Charlie Jones (groin), but the good news is Cody Ford is back from illness so if Brown can’t go, Ford will be available.

Cappa was looking good going through concussion protocols this week, Taylor said, and was a full participant Friday. Other concerns were with Trey Hendrickson (finger), Geno Stone (shoulder) and Kris Jenkins (illness), but all three practiced in full by Friday.

For the Browns, defensive tackle Shelby Harris is out with an elbow injury, tight end David Njoku (hamstring), wide receiver Cedric Tillman (concussion) and Winston (right shoulder) are questionable. Winston’s shoulder injury came up Thursday, after the quarterback change had already been made.

SUNDAY’S GAME

Browns at Bengals, 1 p.m., CBS, 700, 1290, 1530, 95.7, 102.7, 104.7