Browns at Bengals
THE STORY: The Cincinnati Bengals have taken a big hit to their division title hopes over the last two weeks. Back-to-back losses to AFC North co-leaders Pittsburgh and Baltimore have dropped them into third place in the division and sixth in the conference. The Bengals still rank ahead of four teams at 5-5 in the wild card race. Improbably, the Cleveland Browns still have an outside shot at the playoffs. Two games behind Cincinnati, the Browns snapped a three-game slide with a win over the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars last Sunday. Cleveland is staring down a stretch of three straight division games and still has to face both Baltimore and Pittsburgh twice, making those dreams a long shot. The Bengals will be looking for some breathing room when they host the Browns on Sunday.
TV: CBS, 1 p.m. ET. LINE: Bengals -9, O/U: 37.5.
ABOUT THE BROWNS (4-6): Cleveland may have found a running back in Chris Ogbonnaya, who rushed for a career-high 115 yards last week and has totaled 205 over the past two games. The Browns have been scrambling at the positions with Peyton Hillis struggling through an injury-plagued campaign. Quarterback Colt McCoy hurt his shoulder against Jacksonville but stayed in the game and is probable for Sunday. The Browns own the NFL’s best defense against the pass and will pin their chances on shutting down Andy Dalton on Sunday.
ABOUT THE BENGALS (6-4): Dalton continues to impress in his rookie season. His 15 touchdowns match Dan Marino and Peyton Manning for the highest total through 10 games by a rookie and he is coming off a 373-yard performance in last week’s 31-24 loss to the Ravens. Cincinnati could lean on running back Cedric Benson, who has rushed for 271 yards in the last two meetings with Cleveland. Dalton’s rookie target, A.J. Green, is questionable for Sunday with a hyperextended knee.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Dalton’s next touchdown pass will move him into first place on the club’s rookie list, ahead of Greg Cook (1969).
2. With Leon Hall out for the season, the Bengals will start Adam “Pacman” Jones at cornerback again on Sunday.
3. Browns rookie WR Greg Little leads first-year players with 42 receptions.