What a difference a week makes.
After a 13-6 win against Pittsburgh, the Browns close off their 2025-2026 season on the road against their interstate rivals: the Cincinnati Bengals. We’ll see if the Browns can build momentum that hopefully carries into next year or if this season ends the same way it began, with a loss to “little brother.”
Much as they were to start the season, Cincinnati remains a one-trick pony. They rely heavily on their pass attack and, as a result, can abandon the ground game. With a 35.9% run play percentage, only Arizona has run the ball less than Cincinnati. Helming Cincinnati’s seldom-used rushing attack is 3rd-year RB Chase Brown. Brown has accumulated 947 rushing yards to go along with six touchdowns this season. The former Illinois Fighting Illini RB is coming off his most productive game of the year, running for 101 yards with two scores in Cincinnati’s 37-14 win against the previously mentioned Arizona Cardinals. Even with the Bengals running the ball at such a minuscule rate, the Browns should avoid dismissing Brown. In week one, while he only had a meager 46 yards on 21 carries, Brown managed to find the endzone for a 5-yard touchdown. Zeroing in on stopping Chase and Higgins should be a top priority for Cleveland, but dismissing Brown as a non-factor could be a fatal mistake.
What makes the Bengals such a formidable team is their passing attack. Since being selected fifth overall in the 2021 Draft, WR Ja’marr Chase has been one of the NFL’s most elite receivers. Since 2021, Chase has the second-most receptions (512), receiving yards (6,741), and receiving touchdowns (53). A main focal point in Sunday’s game is the bi-yearly matchup between Chase and Browns’ CB Denzel Ward. In the past, Ward has gotten the better of Chase more times than not. In the six career games where they’ve matched up, Chase has 385 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 34 catches. Given that Chase had only two receptions for 26 yards in the last matchup, recent history would be on Ward’s side. Cleveland, containing Chase as they did previously, would definitely take the air out of sails of the Bengals’ passing attack.
It seems like Cincinnati’s strategy every year is to have the league’s best passing attack, a run game that’s effective enough to keep defenses honest, and a defensive unit that’s halfway decent; that hasn’t been the case this season. Due to a turf toe injury suffered in week two, star QB Joe Burrow missed nine games this season. During that time, the Bengals had a dismal record of 1-8. Since Burrow’s return, the team has gone 3-2. In the past five games, Burrow has reclaimed his spot among the NFL’s elite. He’s thrown for twelve touchdowns (tied for most), on 1,384 passing yards (4th most), with a passer rating of 101.8 (7th highest). Slowing down one of the league’s best players is a tall task for any team, but given the fact that Cleveland has allowed the second-fewest passing yards per game (163.8) in the league, the Browns’ secondary might be up for the challenge.
It’s not an overstatement to say that the Bengals have the worst defense in the league. For the year, they allow the most yards per game (393.5), rushing yards per game (148.9), the second-most points per game (29.5), and the fifth-most passing yards per game (244.6). It’s unfair to pin Cincinnati’s defensive woes on just one player, but starting safety Geno Stone has been a liability in the secondary. When in coverage, Stone has allowed a passer rating of 113.1 with a team-high four touchdowns. Stone’s putrid play hasn’t been exclusive to pass coverage, as he is widely known as one of the worst tacklers in the NFL. The former Iowa Hawkeye leads the NFL with 25 missed tackles. To make matters worse, current teammates of Stone, S Jordan Battle, and LB Barrett Carter are 2nd and 5th in missed tackles. This is indicative of a deeper problem with Cincinnati’s defense, whether that’s an issue with talent, scheme fit, system, or a mixture of all three. As for Cleveland, this looks to be an ideal opportunity for the offense, especially RBs Dylan Sampson and Raheim Sanders. Sampson has taken over as the starting running back since then-starter Quinshon Judkins’ season-ending leg injury suffered in week 16. Sanders, who rushed for his lone touchdown of the year against Cincinnati back in week one, could be looking for a repeat performance.
Strengths:
- NFL’s Most Prolific Passing Connection (Burrow-To-Chase)
- Offensive Line Improved From Years Past
- Third-least Penalized Team In the League
Weaknesses:
- Arguably Worst Defense In League
- League’s Worst Run Game
Keys To The Game:
- No Turnovers
- Pound The Rock, Keep Burrow And Chase Off The Field
- Don’t Settle For Field Goals
Key Matchup:
Cleveland’s Run Game Vs. Cincinnati’s Front Seven
This time, the battle of Ohio won’t be played for a postseason birth or playoff positioning but something worth even more: pride.
The Browns aren’t exactly the toast of the NFL, but neither are the Bengals. While these two teams are close talent-wise, they’re polar opposites in terms of philosophy. Cleveland boasts a top 10 defense while being hampered by an at times atrocious offense. Cincinnati, on the other hand, has an explosive, albeit one-dimensional offense, but also has the league’s worst defense. I would trust Cleveland’s defense to limit the Bengals’ high-power offense if they were playing at home. As we’ve seen this year, Cleveland’s defense is nearly as dominant on the road as it is at home. When playing at Huntington Bank Field, the Browns allow 17.6 points per game, sixth-fewest in the league. On the road, they allow the sixth-most ppg at 27.4. The bottom line is that Cincinnati is going to score a lot, and I don’t think Cleveland’s offense can keep up.
The good news is that playing against a pass-happy offense with a below-average o-line should all but guarantee that Myles Garrett gets his record-breaking 23rd sack.
Score Prediction:
- CLE- 24
- CIN- 28
The post Week 18 Opponent Scouting Report: Cincinnati Bengals appeared first on Cleveland Sports Talk .