The Bengals are not overlooking their Week 16 matchup against the Browns, as Cincinnati looks to earn a spot in the NFL playoffs. A win over a division rival would go a long way for the Bengals, as they must win each of their remaining three games to have a chance at making the playoffs.
"It's never easy," Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said on facing the Browns. "They're a tough team, well-coached. A ton of talent when you look at that defense from top to bottom. And then offensively, they have a ton of playmakers. I think they have a really good coaching staff. So, you go in there and there's nothing easy about it. Always tough, hard-fought games and one we have to be ready for."
Much has changed regarding the Browns since their last matchup with the Bengals in Week 7, in which the Browns fell 21-14 at home.
Ahead of the game, the Bengals watched film and prepared to face QB Deshaun Watson, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in the first half against the Bengals. QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson entered the game in the second quarter and QB Jameis Winston entered the game in the fourth quarter, meaning the Bengals faced all three of the Browns' available quarterbacks in their previous matchup.
After seven games with Winston at starting quarterback, the Browns are making the switch to Thompson-Robinson.
Taylor is preparing to face a young quarterback who has little NFL film available, making just three career starts.
"You have to just plan for their offense and their scheme that shows up," Taylor said. "Dorian has played some, played some against us obviously. So, again, you're preparing for the scheme, preparing for their playmakers. Any time they make a change, you have to be ready for anything. You have to look at what his strengths are and be ready to play to that as well."
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their game this week against the Cincinnati Bengals at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Tight end Jordan Akins (88) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Offensive Assistant/Run Game Specialist Nick Charlton during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Punter Corey Bojorquez (13) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Offensive tackle Julian Pearl (60) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive end Sam Kamara (92) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Cornerback Chigozie Anusiem (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive end James Houston (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensive end Elerson G. Smith (52) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Tight end Tre' McKitty (87) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Long snapper Rex Sunahara (50) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Running back Jacob Kibodi (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelen Gill (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive tackle Jowon Briggs (97) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Running back Jacob Kibodi (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Running back Jacob Kibodi (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Safety Trey Dean (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensive tackle T.Y. McGill (63) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive tackle T.Y. McGill (63) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Punter Corey Bojorquez (13) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Tight end Brenden Bates (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Tight end Brenden Bates (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Safety Trey Dean (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Bill Willis Diversity Fellow Nemo Washington during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelen Gill (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Offensive tackle Lorenzo Thompson (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Tight end Tre' McKitty (87) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Coaching Consultant Mike Vrabel during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Safety D'Anthony Bell (37) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive end Elerson G. Smith (52) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Cornerback Mike Ford Jr. (31) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive end Marcus Haynes (98) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Offensive Assistant/Quarterbacks Coach Ashton Grant during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Tight end Brenden Bates (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Assistant Wide Receivers Coach Callie Brownson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Tight end Brenden Bates (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Pass Game Specialist/Tight Ends Coach Tommy Rees during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Running back Jacob Kibodi (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Pass Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach Chad O'Shea during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelen Gill (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Kicker Dustin Hopkins (7) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensive Quality Control Coach Jeff Anderson and Cornerbacks Coach Brandon Lynch during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensively, the Bengals will once again be tasked with the headache that is going up against DE Myles Garrett.
Garrett, who has the fifth-most sacks this season with 11, will demand the Bengals' attention each time he's on the field as they seek to protect their quarterback.
"He's as good as there is in the world," Taylor said. "He's a real problem. You don't play him for seven weeks and then you watch the tape again and you feel like he's gotten better somehow. He's a big part of their defense, he makes them go. You have to do everything you can to not allow him to get into a rhythm. He's a premier player in this league."
The Browns defense held the Bengals to 14 points in Week 7, but the special teams unit gave up a touchdown on the game's opening kickoff to put the Browns down at the beginning of the game.
The Bengals, who are averaging 28.5 points per game this season – the fifth-most in the NFL – will look to put together a better performance against the Browns in their second meeting.
"We did some good things and did some things that we wish we had back (against the Browns in Week 7)," QB Joe Burrow said. "Our defense came up big that game, they played really, really well. We have to hold up our end of the bargain on the offense this week. We have to limit (Garrett) from wrecking the game – he can if you let him. We hit some plays, but we have to hit some more."
In addition to Garrett's strong play for the Browns defense this season, CB Denzel Ward is in the middle of one of the best statistical seasons of his career.
Ward has a league-leading 19 pass breakups, two interceptions and a forced fumble and fumble recovery in 14 games this season. Against the Bengals, Ward had two pass breakups and three total tackles.
Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase complimented Ward's ability to play the ball in the air as well as his ability to rotate his hips to move alongside receivers in their routes.
"By far he's one of the best cornerbacks I've played against and have been around in the league so far," Chase said. "He's just always been the same ever since I played him. […] He has fast feet but he's moving to where it's slow to him."
Chase finished with five receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown in Week 7 against the Browns, the third-fewest receiving yards the receiver has had in a game this season.
Chase, Burrow and the rest of the Bengals will look to improve their offensive production in their second matchup against the Browns. With their season on the line, earning a win against their division rival is a must if they are to keep their dreams of reaching the postseason alive.
"It would mean we're 1-0 this week," Burrow said. "It would mean we're one step closer to finishing the season how we want to."
