Bengals play Browns

[schweinhart]

I believe the Bengals play the Cleveland Browns today.

On paper, why even bother having these teams risk injuries to play this game.

But there's got to be a lot of pressure that Romeo the Clown has put himself under to figure out some way to beat a superior team and to inspire players who must feel like the whole season has been a total waste.

The 4-8 record despite a few close games was proly not the thing Randy Lerner was looking for when he hired Bill Bellichick's defensive genius and dropped the Tyson Chicken logo from the press conference backdrop. Wonder how Butch Davis looks to him now.

Now doubt Romeo has eyed some way to salvage a shred of respectability as a head coach this season. Winning out and finishing with a non-losing record would do that. And he can go on being just as jelly-bellied jovial and pleasantly mannered as he'd like to be.

But between the injuries and the otherwise lackluster personnel on the field, what chance does Romeo have to pull a win out of this game -- proly about the same chance as the Butch Clowns had in the last game of the season in 2003.

It's interesting to note the total collapse of the Clowns in just the last 3 years: the Bengals have faced 3 different Clown coaches in Butch, Romeo, and the ill-fated Terry Robiskie (who managed to figure out a way to rack up more than 40 pts. in a game vs. Bengals). And they've had how many QBs? Tim Couch, Kelly Holcomb, Jeff Gaycia, Trent Dilfer, and now Charlie Frye.

The Bengals should seize the opportunity to cultivate their killer instinct against this team and beat them mercilessly.

[HoosierCat]

The Bengals should win easily...operative word: "should." In reality I expect this game to stay relatively close, with something like a 27-20 finish in Cincy's favor. Remember in our first meeting they had a couple TDs called back by penalties. If we can keep Droughans in check and put some pressure on the kid QB, we should be fine.

Operative word: should.

[AMC]

The Bengals should win easily...operative word: "should." In reality I expect this game to stay relatively close, with something like a 27-20 finish in Cincy's favor. Remember in our first meeting they had a couple TDs called back by penalties. If we can keep Droughans in check and put some pressure on the kid QB, we should be fine.

Operative word: should.

My thoughts exactly...The talent and momentum differential is clearly in favor of the Bengals. But throw that out. I believe it will be a close game as well. Something in the range of Joisey's prediction.

We all know the keys to the game so I won't bore you with a re-hash!

Who-Dey!

[bengalindian]

In the words of one of my friends who is a Browns fan, "I'll s**t on your porch if the Browns win." I feel that Romeo has done great things with this team, considering the amount of talent, or lack thereof, he has worked with and the injuries they have endured. I think this will be a 3 team race next season, and become one of the strongest divisions for years to come, so hopefully we can enjoy this relatively easy match-up for one of the last times in awhile.

[schweinhart]

Sure looks like a breeze of a game today, eh? Should be and yes should is the word.

Not to rehash the keys of the game for they do seem fairly straightforward, but there's some deja vu brewing here.

Just watching the Bengals Weekly and Marvin says this week's game is bigger than last week. I hope the players believe that as well because it is -- a win all but clinches the North whether the Steelers beat the Bears or not because the Bengals would only have to win 1 more game even if the Steelers win out.

But the deja vu..... The Bengals-Clowns debacle in 2003 was a big game too -- 1st winning season since 1990 on the line and a bonafide playoff bid if they would have gotten a little help.

And yet the Bengals blew it. Why? They ran the ball with the wrong running back. Corey Dillon would've been the back who got closer to 200 yards in the game instead of Lee Suggs if the game adjustment on the field would have been given priorty over apparently other priorities that were not winning the game. But for whatever reason, the playcalling killed it. I hadn't cussed the screen so much since Billups dropped the pick in the end zone in the last Bengals Super Bowl.

The only team that can beat the Bengals today is the Bengals.

[bengalindian]

The only team that can beat the Bengals today is the Bengals.

Or the Browns.

[Spain]

Hey whats the address for the hunningtong station?

[schweinhart]

The only team that can beat the Bengals today is the Bengals.

Or the Browns.

Or Bob Bratkowski.

Just watching him give his line about sticking to the "meat and potatoes" of the offense is good but when he starts talking about keeping the looks and calls "fresh" and adding some "wrinkles", I can only hope he's adding stuff that helps the Bengals win the game on hand and not adding stuff just to add it or trying out plays for practice for future scenarios where they face a double-digit deficit.

Last week what he added made him look like a genius but it didn't change their primary approach to offense.

[HoosierCat]

Fanene out, Clemons in, Odell won't start...

Drawing within just a few hours, days, or weeks of a possible playoff berth, the Bengals opted for experience in favor of youth along the defensive front in Sunday’s game against the Browns at Paul Brown Stadium.

Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis decided to activate 10-year veteran Duane Clemons and sit rookie Jonathan Fanene in the rotation behind starting left end Justin Smith. Fanene played about four snaps in his NFL debut last Sunday during the 38-31 win in Pittsburgh, but the first two were spectacular.

Because of the violation of a team rule, rookie middle linebacker Odell Thurman won’t start, but is expected to appear in the second series. Landon Johnson gets his first start since last season at middle linebacker.

Lewis said last week he thought Fanene, a seventh-rounder from Utah, gave the Bengals a better chance to win than Clemons. But Clemons had also been battling sore ribs and Lewis may like the experience this Sunday. Clemons, who has appeared in five playoff games, is looking at playing in his 139th regular-season game Sunday.

[schweinhart]

Rich Gannon apparently is doing the national broadcast of the game and announced that "Brandon Johnson" will be starting in Odells place.

Hopefully the change only lasts for one play.

And hopefully the Bengals D won't make a WR hanging onto a roster spot by a thread like Frisman Jackson look like the second coming of Terrell Owens again.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

It's also extremely gusty/windy and freezing cold outside. I am glad that I am not at the game. It's miserable outside.

[schweinhart]

The conditions won't hurt the Clowns with their Droughn run and play-action pass attack.

But there just ain't no stopping Carson.

Bengals 31

Clowns 20

WhoDey

[BengalszoneBilly]

Bengals 31

Clowns 20

WhoDey

Well you nailed Clevelands score anyway!!

[AMC]

Darn I had 27-20 Bengals....oh so close!

Who-Dey

The Browns fans on the penalties are already starting on cleveland.com....but mostly they are proud of their team for a good game....