Bengals vs. Browns: Game Information and Staff Predictions

Nov 17, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) calls out signals during the game against the Cleveland Browns at Paul Brown Stadium. Cincinnati won 41-20. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns

Location: Paul Brown Stadium (Cincinnati, OH)

Date: Thursday, November 6, 2014

Game Time: 8:25pm ET

Weather: It looks like it’ll be a cold evening at Paul Brown Stadium.  It should be about 43 degrees with a 15 mph WNW wind.  This type of wind certainly could have an impact on the kicking game and possibly even the passing game, so be sure to pay attention there.  There is a 40% chance of rain, so things could get messy.  Hopefully Cincinnati will stay dry for the evening, but this type of weather favors the running game, which could hurt the Bengals considering their struggle to stop the run.

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TV: The NFL network will carry the game this week (in Cincinnati, WLWT-TV [Channel 5] will also have the game locally).  Jim Nantz (play-by-play) and Phil Simms (analysis) will announced the game this Thursday evening.

Local Radio: The game will be broadcasted on Cincinnati’s WCKY-AM (ESPN 1530), WEBN-FM (102.7), and WLW-AM (700). Dan Hoard (play-by-play) and former Cincinnati Bengals’ offensive lineman Dave Lapham (analyst) will be the announcers. Bengals.com has also provided a list of other radio broadcasts in the local area.

Streaming and Listening Online: The game can be viewed through the NFL’s Game Rewind once the game has concluded. The NFL network also offers its Audio Pass for online listening.

Predictions from the Staff

Dave Petrocelli

This battle will be a hard-fought struggle where the team who commits less turnovers and can grind out yards effectively will win the day.  The Browns are winners of four of their last five games and have proven themselves capable in these grind it out games.  With hard-nosed running and an effective defense, the Browns win games in the typical AFC North fashion.

Meanwhile the Bengals enter the game without Giovani Bernard, but should have A.J. Green to help stretch the field.  He’s historically struggled when facing Joe Haden, so it’s entirely possible that Mohamed Sanu has yet another big day.  Jeremy Hill’s ability to have another big day will be the difference in the ball game.  The Bengals’ defense needs to put pressure on Brian Hoyer and keep this team from converting big plays.  If they can do so, the Bengals earn their 15th straight home victory.

Bengals 24 – Browns 17

Matt Willson

See Matt’s game preview and prediction here.

Tyler Mercurio

The Bengals should win this game. I know that the Browns are playing well, and kudos to them; however there is one reason why the Bengals will win this game. His name is Nick McDonald. The Browns’ center that has taken over for Alex Mack has not even proved to be a sufficient back-up in the NFL. Pair this up with the improving health of Geno Atkins, and Browns’ quarterback Brian Hoyer will be in for a tough time.

What this means for the Bengals is that they can finally use their zone coverage, that they love to run, to perfection. With Atkins getting a major push up the middle, it will draw in a double team. This leaves one-on-one for Carlos Dunlap on the end, or if the Browns do not feel like dealing with that all day, you can expect an extra blocker to be drawn in. This will most likely be a tight end or a running back. That now limits Hoyer’s options in the passing game. Not to say that Gabriel and Hawkins are not solid receivers, but after that, there is not a whole lot left for the Browns. Couple all of this with a diminished running game, and the Browns offense may be slow.

On the offensive side, I am sorry to say this, but the Bengals will not do much. The last couple of games the Bengals have seen “Bad Andy” [Dalton], and not “97 million dollar Andy.” He has made bone-headed mistakes that show why exactly he is not worth that contract. The Browns’ secondary has been on fire lately. Joe Haden has always had A.J. Green’s number and the Bengals do not create holes in the run-blocking scheme. In addition, Andre Smith is hurt. As much as I personally think Smith is an unreliable offensive tackle, he now shifts around an offensive line that has been without its best guard most of the season.

So what is the clincher for this game? The Bengals know that this is a MUST win. With games against Pittsburgh (2), another against Cleveland, Denver, New Orleans, and Houston, this home game, on a short week, is imperative.

Also, I never ever trash talk, in fear that I jinx the team, but even though the Browns are playing well, they are still the Cleveland Browns. They still have to go to Paul Brown Stadium and win.  In the end, the Bengals win in a tight one.

Bengals 27 -Browns 20

Dustin Meritt

The battle of Ohio has never made me more nervous as this Bengals team doesn’t look overly confident and is really banged up. The Browns are the best they have been in a long time and have built some confidence with wins against both the Saints and the Steelers. I have real concerns about the Bengals defense: They let a rookie undrafted free agent go over 100 yards receiving and score two touchdowns last week (Allen Hurns). New defensive coordinator Paul Gunther seems overwhelmed and is playing too conservative.  He seems afraid to “dial it up,” rather choosing to focus on protecting the secondary. With that said, I believe the Bengals grind one out with the ground game and take the ball out of Andy Dalton’s hands.

Bengals 24- Browns 21

Sean McMahon

The offense has been hitting its stride lately and though Andy Dalton had two questionable plays, he played a very good game overall against the Jaguars. The biggest question mark will be if the Bengals stop the Browns rushing attack. They possess a three-headed monster that continues to produce no matter who they play. The Bengals absolutely need their interior line play to step up tonight.

Bengals 27 – Browns 17