NFL preview: Cleveland Browns play Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium live on Sky Sports
Wednesday 26 November 2014 14:20, UK
Cleveland and Cincinnati lock horns in one of the most eagerly-anticipated battles for Ohio with both teams unusually still in the playoff hunt – the last time they were both over .500 in the AFC North at this stage of a season was back in 1986.
Anything is possible in such a competitive division this season, which the Bengals top courtesy of a tied game with the Panthers putting them on 5-3-1 after nine games.
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The flying Pittsburgh Steelers are 6-3 but that mark can be matched by the surprising Browns if they can beat their neighbours on their trip to Paul Brown Stadium.
Cleveland have been surprising and confusing in equal measure this season; they’ve beaten New Orleans, and more recently Pittsburgh when winning four of the last five – although that one loss was an embarrassing one to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Cincy started strong at 3-0 before being demolished in New England, held to a tie with Carolina and being shutout 27-0 by the Colts. However, two wins since then have got them back on track to try and defend their divisional title.
Home rule
Playing at Paul Brown Stadium makes a massive difference in this fixture, with the Bengals 13-0-1 in their last 14 regular season home games. QB Andy Dalton has, in particular, enjoyed a huge boost in form compared to his troubles on the road.
Cleveland have lost the last five in Cincinnati and their overall losing streak on the road in their division stretches back 17 games, a stat they will have to put an end to if they are to be taken seriously as playoff contenders.
Rushing attack
The ground game will be a key area of battle with both rushing defences among the worst in the league, ranking 30th and 31st in yards per game and being equally as bad when allowing 4.8 yards per carry to opposing tail-backs.
Rookie Jeremy Hill has stepped in for the injured Giovani Bernard brilliantly for the Bengals and is likely to start again after a monster 154-yard, two-TD performance on Sunday – he leads all rookie backs with five scores. The Browns have struggled to run it with centre Alex Mack out injured, but if ever they had a chance to get Ben Tate and Terence West back in form it’s against a Bengals outfit that yielded 132 yards on the ground to Jacksonville last time out.
Defence
Both of these units are pretty similar in that they give up plenty of yards, especially on the ground, but it doesn’t translate into a mass of points though. Cincy has allowed a middle-of-the-road 23.4 points per game while the Browns are actually eighth in the NFL, giving up 21.1 points per contest. They are also ranked second in red zone defence.
Cleveland safety Tashaun Gipson leads the lead with six interceptions and with Bengals QB Andy Dalton throwing five picks in his last four games he’ll have to tighten up especially with Pro Bowl cornerback Joe Hayden also lurking in a ball-hawking Browns secondary.
Green return
In a contest with limited offensive stars, Bengals wideout AJ Green is by far the standout and his assurance that he’ll be ready to play is a major boost for Dalton and his team. Green missed three games with a toe injury and returned in a limited capacity on Sunday but still found the end zone, despite playing just over half the offensive snaps.
Green was limited to just 58 yards over two games against the Browns last year, but the emergence of Mohamed Sanu as a legitimate second receiver should open more doors for him. The Browns are without Pro Bowl tight end Jordan Cameron again, and that loss that will be even bigger if their leading receiver Andrew Hawkins cannot recover from a thigh injury in time to face his former team.
Hoyer doing enough
Browns QB Brian Hoyer has the spectre of rookie Johnny Manziel on his shoulder and, despite some struggles, he’s been doing just enough to keep the shouts for ‘Johnny Football’ to a minimum. He’s made some big plays late in games and actually has more yards and touchdowns, along with fewer interceptions, than Dalton.
Hoyer just seems to be able to get results as well, always a good nack to have in the NFL, and a win on Thursday night will not only claim a share of top spot in the AFC North but will make him just the fourth Browns QB to enjoy nine wins in his first 12 starts.
Watch the Browns @ the Bengals live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 1.25am on Friday morning.
