Bengals vs Browns (old but still a good one)

[Kazkal]

Forgot who made it but preatty sure was black jesus or billy no?

[NYBengalfan]

Forgot who made it but preatty sure was black jesus or billy no?

Hell yeah.........

"WE GOT THIS!!!" ........"WE GOT THIS!!"(sound familiar)

Were gonna kill the Browns and roll into PIT 2-0.

[schweinhart]

The Clowns are not the same Clowns as last year on defense. Their LB corps is much better with the additions of McGinest, D'Qwell and Wimbley. Add Matt Stewart and Andra Davis to the mix and there's some significant talent there. Rudi probably won't uncork like he has against them and there should be much more QB pressure.

This marks the 1st time the Bengals have faced the 3-4 this year, including preseason. I would expect some rust on offense against the scheme but it should prove a valuable tune up for the next to 3-4 base teams in Pittsburgh and New England.

Defensively the Bengals should assail the Clowns offense. However TEs still look like they can be a problem for the Bengals to contend with. Soulja might factor into this one.

Bengals 23

Clowns 17

[derekshank]

Palmer doesn't usually have great games against the Browns 3-4 scheme. In his 4 games he has averaged only 193 yards/game, with 8 TD's and 6 INT's. Hardly stellar when you consider that it's an MVP candidate against a really bad team.

That said... Rudi always picks up the slack. In those 4 games, he averaged 139 yards/game and has had 4 TD's. We might not move the ball like we usually do... but we still have far too many weapons for them to stop us.

I think the real difference is going to be the defense. Their interior O-Line is in real trouble. They only got 41 rushing yards from RB's. Frye got the rest on 6 scrambles (sound familiar?) The Saints have a bad rushing defense, so we should have no problem shutting down the run.

Also, they lost Jurevicius, so our CB's should have a real good day. The Saints sacked Frye 5 times. Last year they had the 2nd fewest sacks in the league... and they lost their best pass rusher in Darren Howard to Free agency. Sorry Charlie... you're going to get killed. We have a real shot at a shut-out here.

While this has all the markings of a trap game (right after a big road victory, and right before a big rival game) there is no reason this shouldn't be a blow out. I'm completely unafraid. I'm looking ahead to Pittsburgh.

[ArmyBengal]

Derek, I agree... While I hate to overlook any NFL team and the Browns could very well pull the upset special, I just don't see it happening and I can't see Marvin NOT having this team up for the first division game (or ANY Divsional game for that matter) especially the home opener... I'm hoping to see a dominant defensive effort and a possible shutout in this game and come away injury free !!!

WHODEY !!!

[Stripes]

Derek, I agree... While I hate to overlook any NFL team and the Browns could very well pull the upset special, I just don't see it happening and I can't see Marvin NOT having this team up for the first division game (or ANY Divsional game for that matter) especially the home opener... I'm hoping to see a dominant defensive effort and a possible shutout in this game and come away injury free !!!

In bold I think is the most important factor. I can't see a team as hungry for wins as the Bengals farting one away against the worst team in the division in their home opener.

[ArmyBengal]

Rock on TDB, ROCK ON !!!

WHODEY !!!

[schweinhart]

Palmer doesn't usually have great games against the Browns 3-4 scheme. In his 4 games he has averaged only 193 yards/game, with 8 TD's and 6 INT's. Hardly stellar when you consider that it's an MVP candidate against a really bad team.

That said... Rudi always picks up the slack. In those 4 games, he averaged 139 yards/game and has had 4 TD's. We might not move the ball like we usually do... but we still have far too many weapons for them to stop us.

I think the real difference is going to be the defense. Their interior O-Line is in real trouble. They only got 41 rushing yards from RB's. Frye got the rest on 6 scrambles (sound familiar?) The Saints have a bad rushing defense, so we should have no problem shutting down the run.

Also, they lost Jurevicius, so our CB's should have a real good day. The Saints sacked Frye 5 times. Last year they had the 2nd fewest sacks in the league... and they lost their best pass rusher in Darren Howard to Free agency. Sorry Charlie... you're going to get killed. We have a real shot at a shut-out here.

While this has all the markings of a trap game (right after a big road victory, and right before a big rival game) there is no reason this shouldn't be a blow out. I'm completely unafraid. I'm looking ahead to Pittsburgh.

No question the Bengals should handle biz vs. Clowns.....But this is a better Clowns team than last year and in 2004 when Butch Davis ran a 4-3 D.

I'm still expecting some of the reads by Palmer and blocking assignments to be a little confused by their first look at a 3-4 this year. But even if the worst happens and the Bengals find themselves down a score or 2 early, they should be able to overcome that.

[derekshank]

No question the Bengals should handle biz vs. Clowns.....But this is a better Clowns team than last year and in 2004 when Butch Davis ran a 4-3 D.

I'm still expecting some of the reads by Palmer and blocking assignments to be a little confused by their first look at a 3-4 this year. But even if the worst happens and the Bengals find themselves down a score or 2 early, they should be able to overcome that.

I'll agree that the Browns are a better defense than last year... but not a better team. Their improvements on offense were Kevin Shaffer, LeCharles Bentley, and Joe Jurevicius (great football name by the way). Bentley's done and Jurevicius is out for a while. They're starting a 3rd string center, and their guards aren't great... and while Shaffer is an upgrade over L. J. Shelton... he's only 290, so he can be bull-rushed... which Shelton couldn't as a 340 pounder.

They have a 2nd year QB who has no running game to rely on and no O-line to protect him. It's a very bad situation for their offense. They might be the worst in the league. Winslow is going to be a great fantasy TE, because he'll be Frye's security blanket... but when it comes to actual NFL offense for winning games, they will be terrible. Any wins this team gets will be on the back of the defense.

I'd almost feel bad for them if it wasn't Cleveland (the guys who cheered when Tim Couch got hurt). They looked like they had hope this off-season, but it all came crashing down with their injuries. Note to self... never cheer an injury... because God will bring it back to bite you in the ass later on.

[schweinhart]

I'd have to say their biggest improvements on offense this year are the return of Winslow and Edwards and their biggest additions from last year on the O-line Andruzzi and Cosey Coleman should still open some holes up the middle for the downhill running Droughns (although not near enough to make the Clowns anywhere near a run first team).

The shifted emphasis to passing game first is coming with them and if you add the WR they didn't activate last week in Travis Wilson, the Clowns should develop more of a passing game than what they've had even without Antonio Bryant and Frisman Jackson this year.

Their defensive personnel is better for the most part --not just the LB corp but in young safeties like Brodney Pool and Sean Jones as well as a goal line wedge like Big Ted. Their big weakness on D is the corners. Baxter is serviceable but the rest is garbage and they'll pay for it throughout the year unless they can really get their edge LBs off the line to rush and not dropping back into coverage so much.

I just hope this game isn't one of those 58-48 from a couple years back. That was like being on a rollercoaster for 3 hours straight.

[derekshank]

I just hope this game isn't one of those 58-48 from a couple years back. That was like being on a rollercoaster for 3 hours straight.

No worries there. Both of these defenses are improved... and the Browns D wasn't bad last year. The scores last year were 27-13 and 23-20, so with both teams having improved Defenses, the score shouldn't be much higher than those scores... probably lower.

I just have a hard time believing their offense is something to be concerned about. Strange things happen in the NFL (especially inside the division), but I can't come up with a logical reason that this game should be competitive.

[AMC]

Bengals vs. Browns???? Same thing for the past million years....Stop their run and run the ball down their throats....Advantage Bengals....

[schweinhart]

I just hope this game isn't one of those 58-48 from a couple years back. That was like being on a rollercoaster for 3 hours straight.

No worries there. Both of these defenses are improved... and the Browns D wasn't bad last year. The scores last year were 27-13 and 23-20, so with both teams having improved Defenses, the score shouldn't be much higher than those scores... probably lower.

I just have a hard time believing their offense is something to be concerned about. Strange things happen in the NFL (especially inside the division), but I can't come up with a logical reason that this game should be competitive.

Another factor that could give the Clowns some life in this one is Northcutt returning punts. The Bengal coverage unit did a great job bottling up Hall last week but Northcutt is real adept at turning upfield quick and making great one cuts without losing stride. But all in all so long as the Bengals don't get lulled -- and it's doubtful they do -- they should get W #2.