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https://bengalswire.usatoday.com/2019/12/05/bengals-will-upset-browns-week-14/

 

FIVE REASONS THE BENGALS WILL UPSET THE BROWNS IN WEEK 14

 

Revived pass rush

Formerly a big strength of the franchise, Cincinnati’s pass rush fell off a cliff for most of this season. But it has come back alive in recent weeks thanks to the return of Carl Lawson and the seemingly fully healthy Carlos Dunlap. The latter, coming off a three-sack performance, figures to keep it going against a struggling Cleveland offensive line.

 

The return of John Ross

Ross doesn’t need to have a big game statistically to make a difference. That wouldn’t hurt — he’s the owner of the offense’s biggest plays this year. But more importantly, the sheer threat of Ross’ speed on the field makes a huge difference for a passing game littered with targets that have problems creating separation. It also largely plays into the next point…
 

The running game

Since the bye, alterations to the blocking approach up front have helped spur Joe Mixon to his first 100-yard game and multiple touchdowns. Doesn’t sound like much, but it’s a start. With Ross back on the field to ease off defenders from the box, fans might be looking at Mixon’s beat game of the year.
 

Baker Mayfield’s injury

Mayfield slammed his hand into an opponent’s helmet during a loss to Pittsburgh last week. He says he’s fine and he’s practicing, but it’s something to keep in mind. Sitting atop the injury factor is the sheer fact Mayfield has struggled this year, completing just 60 percent of his passes with just 15 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
 

The state of the Browns

Yes, this might sound odd coming from a Bengals perspective given the miserable season so far. But the Browns were alleged contenders before stumbling to 5-7 while held back from bad playcalling, if not overall culture by head coach Freddie Kitchens. The Browns have scored more than 21 points in a game just once since a Week 7 bye, Mayfield has regressed, Myles Garrett is banned, the run defense is one of the NFL’s worst and sidetrack items such as Odell Beckham Jr. fielding questions about his future with the team continue to distract. In other words, the Browns seem primed for an upset.
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 

 

 

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https://www.yahoo.com/sports/browns-enter-final-stretch-playoff-hopes-flickering-000801468--nfl.html

 

Bengals-Browns Preview

The Associated PressDecember 5, 2019, 7:14 PM 
 
 

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Their margin for error is completely gone, and with one more loss, the Cleveland Browns can say goodbye to their playoff hopes as well.

They may have already.

Another demoralizing setback last week in Pittsburgh has left the Browns with no option but to win their final four games - starting with the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday - to have any chance of ending a 17-year postseason drought, the NFL's current longest dry spell.

December was supposed to be the Browns' runway to the playoffs. Instead, it might be a dead end.

''We have to buckle down and win each game from here on out,'' said quarterback Baker Mayfield, who suffered a bruised right throwing hand last week. ''It is just plain and simple. We can't have any slip-ups and we have to win.''

This season that offered such promise after so many dreadful ones in Cleveland has plummeted, leaving the Browns (5-7) to ponder what might have been.

''For everybody there's been a lot of disappointment,'' said star receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who hasn't had nearly the impact forecast when he arrived via trade in March. ''There's areas that we expected more of ourselves, not like we didn't know we were going to have to go out and work for it, but we just expected it, and we were willing to go get it. We just didn't get it.''

For the Bengals (1-11), there's a glimmer amid gloom.

Seemingly on their way to an 0-16 season, they ended the longest losing in franchise history last week by beating the New York Jets 22-6. Cincinnati's return to the win column coincided with quarterback Andy Dalton's return to the starting lineup.

The veteran was benched three games by first-year coach Zac Taylor, but Dalton put his hurt feelings aside and showed he's still got some magic inside his orange-and-black striped helmet.

Dalton's hoping to conjure some more over the final four weeks.

''You have to have confidence in yourself,'' he said. ''Confidence is contagious. It's one of those things where, if you practice well, if you go into the week, guys are in the right spots, you're talking about everything, you're giving everyone else confidence that you're going to get a win on Sunday.

''That's the way I'm going to go about practicing for these last four games and these last four weeks and do whatever we can to make sure guys are feeling good for the games on Sundays.''

HANDY MAN

Mayfield's expected to play despite the hand injury, which he sustained when he smashed it on the facemask of a Stealers player last week. The second-year QB didn't throw until Thursday, and said he'd like to play without wearing a glove as he did in the second half on Sunday.

Mayfield's had an uneven second season - he led the league in interceptions through seven weeks - but it hasn't changed the Browns feeling that he'll develop into an elite player.

''He is a tremendous football player - competitor, smart, tough, has a rare competitive quality and a rare want to be great,'' said offensive coordinator Todd Monken. ''... in my mind, we have the right guy going forward.''

ROSS RETURNS

Wide receiver John Ross returns this week after missing eight games with a shoulder injury, giving the Bengals a much-needed playmaker.

Cincinnati has lacked a deep threat most of the season with A.J. Green sidelined by an ankle surgery and Ross can fill the void. He had touchdown catches of 33, 55 and 66 yards in the first two games, the start of what he'd hoped was a breakout season.

Ross got to work with Dalton on the scout team for two weeks while he was getting back into shape. Games will be a different, but welcomed experience.

''It's hard to simulate a game during practice because there's only so many things you can do,'' Ross said. ''It's not full-speed tackling and things like that. So I think that's something I'm going to have to adjust to real quick.''

ROOKIE MATCHUP

For just the second time, the ''Battle of Ohio'' will feature two rookie coaches with Taylor matched up against Browns coach Freddie Kitchens.

The only other time it happened was in 1984, when Cleveland's Marty Schottenheimer was opposite Cincinnati's Sam Wyche, who five years later provided one of the most memorable moments in the rivalry's history when he scolded Bengals fans for throwing objects on the field by reminding them, ''You don't live in Cleveland.

RISING DEFENSE

Cincinnati's defense is coming off its best three-game stretch of the season, allowing no more than 17 points in any game.

The biggest improvement has been on the line, which was shoved around earlier this season. End Carlos Dunlap tied his career high with three sacks of Sam Darnold in last week's breakthrough win. The Bengals are on their fourth defensive coordinator in four years, which contributed to some of the issues earlier this season.

''We're settling into each other I think,'' coordinator Lou Anarumo said. ''I've had no issues and no complaints with the guys all year. They are executing a whole lot better of late.''

BAD KARMA

A loss would relegate the Bengals to last place alone in the AFC North for the second year in a row. They haven't finished last in consecutive seasons since 2001-02. They've lost 13 of 14 overall and 18 of 20, including nine straight division games since a 34-23 win over Baltimore on Sept 13, 2018.

They were swept by the Browns last season, and a loss would give them three straight against Cleveland for the first time since 2001-02.

 

 

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Destroying what little hope the floating turds have left in this season would be a beautiful thing.  Insuring their 13th straight season without a winning record would be equally as wonderful, particularly in front of the inbred Puppy pound crowd. 

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Weekend Scoreboard Watch

 

Gooooooo  Buffalo  Beeaaatttt Baltimore

 

Gooooooo  Atlanta  Beeaaatttt Carolina

 

Gooooooo  Washington  Beeaaatttt Green Bay

 

Gooooooo  Denver  Beeaaatttt Houston

 

Gooooooo  Detroit  Beeaaatttt Minnesota

 

Gooooooo   Jets     Beeaaatttt Miami

 

Gooooooo  Chargers  Tie Jacksonville

happy diane keaton GIF by Poms

 

 

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15 minutes ago, High School Harry said:

Weekend Scoreboard Watch

 

Gooooooo  Buffalo  Beeaaatttt Baltimore

 

Gooooooo  Atlanta  Beeaaatttt Carolina

 

Gooooooo  Washington  Beeaaatttt Green Bay

 

Gooooooo  Denver  Beeaaatttt Houston

 

Gooooooo  Detroit  Beeaaatttt Minnesota

 

Gooooooo   Jets     Beeaaatttt Miami

 

Gooooooo  Chargers  Tie Jacksonville

happy diane keaton GIF by Poms

 

 

 

The biggest game in the Giants vs. Eagles...and we need Eli to come though!

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Isaiah Prince becomes the third former Ohio State Buckeye to join the Bengals’ offensive line.

By John Sheeran@John__Sheeran  Updated Dec 6, 2019, 4:15pm EST
 

Michael Jordan will start at left guard for the second week in a row on Sunday, and another one of his former college teammates will be watching him from the sideline.

The Bengals have claimed offensive tackle Isaiah Prince off of waivers today, first reported by Adam Schefter.

 

Bengals claimed rookie OT Isaiah Prince on waivers from the Dolphins; Miami selected Prince in the fifth round of the 2019 draft.

 

Prince was drafted with the 202nd overall pick by the Miami Dolphins in this year’s NFL Draft, two rounds after Jordan was picked by the Bengals. A four-year player for the Buckeyes, Prince started 41 games at right tackle for the Buckeyes from 2016 to 2018, the same 41 games Jordan started at left guard and center. Billy Price, who left Columbus a year earlier, started 27 games with Prince and Jordan at center.

Appearing in just four games with the Dolphins, Prince started at right tackle in their Week 4 loss to the Chargers. He filled in at left tackle and even tight end as an extra blocker for two additional games. He was waived by the Dolphins yesterday.

 

Update: To make room for Prince, the Bengals have placed safety and kick returner Brandon Wilson on the Reserve/Injured list.

Wilson, a third-year player, suffered a right hand injury in last Sunday’s game vs. the Jets. He had played in all 12 of the Bengals’ games this season, and had 18 tackles, a pass defensed and two forced fumbles on defense, along with a team-high six tackles on special teams. Additionally, Wilson returned 20 kickoffs for 625 yards and a TD this season, good for an NFL-best 31.25-yard average, which also ranks as the second-best single-season KOR average in Bengals history.

 

************Buh Bye Bobby?  Also, I look for Billy to go on IR for his back in the not too distant future.

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