Browns at Bengals -- Week 2
Where: Paul Brown Stadium (turf, outdoors)
When: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
Spread: Bengals by 9 1/2
Forecast: No rain forecasted, temperatures expected in the 70s
Records: Bengals (Overall: 0-1, AFC North: 0-1), Browns (Overall: 0-1, AFC North: 0-0)
Past results: Cincinnati swept the 2011 series. Two most recent regular-season meetings: Sept. 11, 2011: Bengals 27, Browns 17; Nov. 27, 2011: Bengals 23, Browns 20. Series record: Bengals hold lead, 41-36.
What matters: Can the Bengals defense bounce back from the drubbing it took on Monday against Baltimore? Marvin Lewis, defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and the players admit no aspect of the defense played well in allowing 430 yards. The Bengals gave up an average of 316 yards per game last season while ranking seventh in the NFL. The good news is Cleveland rookie QB Brandon Weeden and his 5.1 passer rating from the opener are coming to town.
Who matters: BenJarvus Green-Ellis and the Bengals running game was one of the few brights spots in the opener against Baltimore. The Bengals gained positive yards on all 24 carries and Green-Ellis averaged 5.1 yards per rush Traditionally, the Bengals have shown the ability to run the ball against the Browns. Cedric Benson went over 100 yards in each of the two meetings last season. The Browns showed no improvement on run defense last week, allowing 150 yards on the ground to LeSean McCoy and the Eagles.
Key matchups: WR A.J. Green vs. CB Sheldon Brown. With Cleveland's top corner Joe Haden out serving a four-game suspension, Green should enjoy a productive day. Brown and company just have to make sure the Bengals top wideout doesn't have a fantasy fan day. Look for offensive coordinator Jay Gruden to move Green from the slot to the outside looking for favorable one-on-one matchups.
Injuries of note: LB Thomas Howard tore his ACL on Thursday and was placed on IR. Arguably the team's best cover linebacker, Howard led the team in tackles in 2011 and will be a devastating loss. With a 48-hour turnaround, the Bengals will count on backups Dan Skuta and Vincent Rey to fill the void left by Howard. Skuta started three games last year in place of Rey Maualuga at MLB. Rey has never started a game in his career.
Inside stuff: LT Andrew Whitworth and LG Clint Boling didn't allow a sack, quarterback hurry or quarterback hit last week against Baltimore. He will line up against a familiar face Sunday in DE Frostee Rucker, who played his first five seasons in Cincinnati and collected four sacks as the starting defensive end last year. Whitworth knows what to expect of his former teammate and hopes to keep him contained.
"Frostee is a smart player, strong guy,” Whitworth said. “He's kind of got a mix of edge rusher who kind of rushes more like a D-tackle as far as a lot of power and different moves. He also is able to play the edge pretty good, too.”
Connections: WR Andrew Hawkins will face one of the two teams who passed him over early in his career (St. Louis being the other). Hawkins eventually made the Bengals roster last season after a stint in the CFL.
Record watch: With a win the Bengals would extend their lead in the Battle of Ohio series to six games. That would be the widest margin held by either team in the 43-year history of the rivalry.
Bulletin Board Quote: This came courtesy Bengals LB Rey Maualuga regarding what he saw from Browns rookie RB Trent Richardson during his debut of 19 rushes for 39 yards:
“He can run you over and you can miss a tackle,” he said. “At the same time, from what we've seen he didn't do nothing spectacular. From running screens, missing passes, trying to find a hole when he's running the ball. He just didn't do anything spectacular from what I've seen. I'm pretty sure he's going to want to get after it once he plays us.”
Stat you should know: Cleveland's red zone defense was spectacular. The Browns ranked third in the NFL in TD percentage inside the 20 defensively and led the league at forcing field goals inside the 10. Meanwhile, the Bengals' red zone woes of 2011 (T-26th) carried over to the opener where they were 1 for 3 in the red zone.
“They are unbelievable in the red zone,” offensive coordinator Jay Gruden said. “We watched the whole red zone tape today and there aren't any good plays on there. It's the damndest thing I've ever seen.”
Looking ahead: This is the first game in a stretch where four of five games are against rookie quarterbacks. The only QB to break up the run will be second-year QB Blaine Gabbert in Jacksonville.
Prediction: Bengals 27, Browns 13.
Follow Paul Dehner Jr. for Bengals updates on Twitter at @CBSBengals.
