The "Battle of Ohio" will renew once again this season as the Browns are set to host the Bengals in Week 7.
The Browns return home for the first of three home games and kick off their division games when they host the Bengals at Huntington Bank Field. Through the first six weeks of the season, the Cleveland is 1-5 and sit at last place in the AFC North, while Cincinnati sits at 2-4 and are third in the AFC North.
Here are three keys to Sunday's game.
Apply pressure to QB Joe Burrow
The Browns pass rush will have a tall task on Sunday in limiting QB Joe Burrow's success in the pass game. Burrow has completed 144 passes for 1,578 passing yards and 12 touchdowns but has been sacked 15 times for a loss of 80 yards this season.
Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said Burrow is also releasing the ball quickly, which they have to account for defensively.
"He has just really good command, knows where his answers are. He's not afraid," Schwartz said. "He's taking the checkdowns, he's working through his progressions real fast, and then he's picking and choosing his times to run, which is mainly third down and red zone."
Burrow has also handled pressure well this season, as he holds a 100.7 passer rating when pressured – ranked fifth in the NFL. He's thrown three touchdowns and one interception when he's under pressure.
"We got a real challenge for our coverage and our pass rush because the ball does come out so quick particularly on first and second down," Schwartz said. "So, trying to get him off the spot, trying to ruin the timing, that's a big challenge this week."
Schwartz wants to see improvement in the Browns pressure rate. This season, the Browns have pressure rate at 39.1 percent, ranked fourth in the league. However, their sack percentage is at 7.4 percent, which is 10th in the league.
"Our scheme and what we do is based on four-man pass rush and our pressure rate needs to go up. Last year, were really, really good there. Even when we didn't get sacks, we were applying a lot of pressure," Schwartz said. "We need to up our game a little bit in the pass rush game. I have confidence that we can. We have good players up there."
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their game this week against the Cincinnati Bengals at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Cornerback Tony Brown II (38) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Running back Nyheim Hines (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Running back Nyheim Hines (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Defensive end Elerson Smith (52) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda and Cornerback Tony Brown II (38) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Cornerback Mike Ford Jr. (31) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Safety Chris Edmonds (41) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Bubba Ventrone during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Director of Performance Shaun Huls during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Cornerback Tony Brown II (38) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Equipment Intern Keaton Huff during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Create offensive flow in balance of run and pass game
Through the first five weeks of the season, the Browns have worked offensively to find ways to attack opposing defenses and score. They have not scored over 20 points in a game so far this season.
As they have worked to establish offensive drives and move the ball downfield, they have struggled to create success in both the run and the pass game. This season, the Browns have rushed for a total of 583 rushing yards, ranked 26th in the league, and average 4.3 yards per carry. They have a total of 1,036 receiving yards, ranked 29th in the league, and average 8.4 yards per reception.
The Browns have also struggled to create explosive plays, as they have had a total of 10 receptions of 20+ yards, and three carries for over 20+ rushing yards.
"You always look for that balance," offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey said. "And I think that when you look at our offense, whether it's now, this week, next week, past weeks, you always want to hunt up that ability to run the football and hunt up that ability to attack a defense in multiple ways so they can't tee off on you. So, I think that's something that we always are striving for."
As RB Nick Chubb recovered from a season-ending knee injury in Week 2 of the 2023 season, he spent the last 12 months rehabbing and staying around the team. From serving as Dawg Pound Captain in Week 17 on Thursday Night Football, to his daily workouts with the Browns training staff at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus, Chubb continued to be a presence among the Browns as he prepared for his return to the field.
The Dawg Pound Captain, Running back Nick Chubb (24), before a NFL football game between the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football on December 28, 2023 at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Browns won 37-20.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 3, 2024.
The Dawg Pound Captain, Running back Nick Chubb (24), before a NFL football game between the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football on December 28, 2023 at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Browns won 37-20.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) before a NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns on November 19, 2023 at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Browns won 13-10.
The Dawg Pound Captain, Running back Nick Chubb (24), before a NFL football game between the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football on December 28, 2023 at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Browns won 37-20.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals on January 7, 2024 at Paycor Stadium. The Browns lost 14-31.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) before a NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns on November 19, 2023 at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Browns won 13-10.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals on January 7, 2024 at Paycor Stadium. The Browns lost 14-31.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 2, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 2, 2024.
The Dawg Pound Captain, Running back Nick Chubb (24), before a NFL football game between the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football on December 28, 2023 at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Browns won 37-20.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a workout in the weight room at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 7, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 2, 2024.
The Dawg Pound Captain, Running back Nick Chubb (24), before a NFL football game between the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football on December 28, 2023 at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Browns won 37-20.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) before a NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns on September 8, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns lost 17-33.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a workout in the weight room at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 7, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) before a preseason NFL football game between the Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns on August 10, 2024 at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Browns lost 10-23.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 9, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 10, 2024.
Protect QB Deshaun Watson
The Browns continue to work through protection issues, as QB Deshaun Watson has been sacked a league-high 31 times this season. He has a completion percentage of 61.3 percent this season, as well as a passer rating of 76.6 percent.
On the flip side, the Bengals have only sacked opposing quarterbacks eight times this season, ranked 30th in the league. If the offensive line can block the Bengals defensive line – particularly in their edge rusher in DE Trey Hendrickson – they can give Watson the necessary time to make plays and find his open pass catchers.
"They've got guys who can rush the passer, they've got some big physical players, they've got linebackers who've been in that system for a long time," Dorsey said. "Athletic coverage, guys who can play in coverage. But I do think that the big thing for them is like, you get a lot of different looks and there's not a lot of busts. There's a lot of guys who are in the right spots and doing these different things effectively, which is not always easy when you have the volume that they have."
