If the Bengals defeat the Browns in Week 16, they will have secured their first season sweep of the Browns since the 2017 season.
The Browns, who have been eliminated from playoff contention, are determined to prevent a sweep and put together a strong performance against the Bengals and in their final three games of the season.
"Right now, I'm just thinking about finishing these three games off strong," WR Jerry Jeudy said. "You have to get these last three wins. Even though we aren't going to the playoffs, we just need to finish with these three wins. It's important for this team and important for this locker room."
Here are three burning questions ahead of the Browns' Week 16 road matchup against the Bengals.
How will Dorian Thompson-Robinson reshape the Browns offense?
With the announcement of QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson's promotion to the Browns' starting quarterback for Week 16, the offense could look different against the Bengals than it has over the previous seven games with QB Jameis Winston at quarterback.
"Certainly, when you're talking about the quarterback position, you're going to lean into plays that they're comfortable with, concepts that they're comfortable with," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "And that's run game, that's pass game, it's all of the above. So, with Dorian, I can't say what it's exactly going to look like other than to say you make sure that it's things that he's comfortable with."
One difference between Thompson-Robinson and Winston is Thompson-Robinson's speed and mobility.
While Winston showed his ability to use his legs throughout the season to escape a collapsing pocket to keep plays alive, Thompson-Robinson's speed could open up a different system of plays for the Browns offense.
"Dorian has some mobility traits to him, with some speed and that type of thing, to adjust and get out of things and make plays with his feet," offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey said. "But we've seen that from Jameis obviously a good amount too. Jameis was exceptional getting out of the pocket and making some off-schedule plays. So, I think there's a balance there. We ran some things with Jameis that we would run with Dorian and, obviously, we'll run some things with Dorian that we didn't run with Jameis."
Thompson-Robinson clocked a 4.56-second 40-yard dash at the 2023 NFL Combine and has shown a willingness to take off with the ball in his hands. Against the Bengals in Week 7 and the Chiefs in Week 15 – the only games Thompson-Robinson has played more than four offensive snaps this season – Thompson-Robinson had six carries for 60 yards. In seven starts this season, Winston had 81 rushing yards on 20 carries.
While Thompson-Robinson's primary focus will be going through his reads to move the ball downfield in the pass game, his legs provide him an escape plan should he run into pressure from the Bengals defense and be forced out of the pocket.
"Just taking it one play at a time, focusing on my (first and second reads), the outlet. If it's in the run game, seeing the shell of the defense. If we got a check, getting to the right check – like just making it as simple as possible," Thompson-Robinson said. "So that way, when the game comes and the bullets are flying, my eyes are in the right spots. I'm not looking at the whole field, I'm looking at just one side and moving on from there. Then after that, they've got to be able to deal with these legs. I know what these can do, and we're going to have to use them when we can."
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.
How will the special teams unit perform after recent struggles?
The Browns special teams unit has made costly mistakes throughout the season, including on the first play of their 21-14 loss to the Bengals in Week 7.
On the game's opening kickoff, the Browns allowed WR Charlie Jones to run 100 yards for a touchdown.
"It's a young group that we're coaching up, but I definitely have seen a lot of improvement with our group," assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone said. "Overall, I think we've been decent. Obviously, we have a few blemishes on our resume this year."
Two of those blemishes have come in each of the past two games.
In Week 14 against the Steelers, WR Kadarius Toney muffed a punt return in the fourth quarter and the Steelers recovered in Browns' territory. In Week 15, WR James Proche II fumbled on a punt return, leading to a Chiefs' touchdown drive.
"It was unfortunate," Ventrone said. "We have to do a better job of obviously possessing the ball. It was a short ball that (Proche) was coming up to get. It didn't look like he had great control of the ball once he secured it, and it gets knocked out from behind him. It's unfortunate."
Ventrone said that Proche has a chance to return punts again this season. He also said that practice squad wide receivers Jaelen Gill and Kaden Davis could be options in the return game.
In addition to occasional struggles in the return game, the Browns kicking unit has struggled to convert field goal attempts throughout the season.
K Dustin Hopkins has converted 64 percent of field goal attempts this year, currently the lowest rate of his 11-season career. Hopkins did not play in Week 15 against the Chiefs but will be active in Week 16 against the Bengals.
"I thought he had a really, really good week last week in practice, so I'm excited for him to get back out there," Stefanski said.
One bright spot for the Browns return unit has been RB Jerome Ford, who has averaged over 27 yards per kickoff return this season.
In Week 15 against the Chiefs, Ford returned a kickoff 45 yards to the Chiefs 49-yard line. Later in the game, Ford showed his speed on a 62-yard run to the end zone for the Browns' only touchdown. Although it wasn't a special teams play, the run by Ford showed the game-breaking speed he adds in the return game.
"You saw him break away on the run on the offensive play, how much speed he has. He gets his momentum going fast and he hits his top end speed pretty good," Ventrone said. "And he likes (returning kicks), that's the thing. You have to be willing to do it, to hit the seam and hit it hard and he's done a good job for us."
For the Browns to earn a victory in Cincinnati, strong play from the special teams unit will be vital.
The Bengals offense averages the fifth-most points per game in the NFL this season at 28.5, meaning turnovers on special teams would give the ball back to one of the hottest offenses in the NFL.
"Our number one priority for us, we talk about getting the ball back to the offense and the last two weeks we didn't do a good job of that," Ventrone said. "So, I think we have made plays and there have been a couple times where we haven't answered the bell."
Can the Browns put pressure on QB Joe Burrow?
In order for the Browns to quell the dominant Bengals' passing attack, pressuring QB Joe Burrow will be critical.
Burrow has performed at a high level this season, leading the NFL with 3,977 passing yards and 36 passing touchdowns. His 107.1 passer rating ranks third among NFL quarterbacks.
"You see him being a little bit more creative, using his legs, looking downfield," LB Jordan Hicks said. "He's the type of quarterback who has command of his offense. He sees things well. He can make every throw. So, any time we face him, it's a big challenge."
In their last matchup in Week 7, Burrow excelled when facing no pressure from the Browns’ pass rush, throwing for 153 yards, two touchdowns and holding a 125.5 passer rating. When pressured, however, Burrow’s production dropped significantly, throwing for just 28 yards, zero touchdowns and holding a 66.4 passer rating.
Since their previous meeting, however, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said that Burrow has been more mobile, evading the pass rush to create positive plays for the Bengals offense.
In the seven games following Week 7, Burrow has thrown nine touchdowns and two interceptions when under pressure, holding an average 95.1 passer rating.
"I think one of the things that's happened since we played them the first time, you're seeing Burrow extend more plays and make more plays with his feet," Schwartz said. "Early in the season, that really wasn't part of what they were trying to do. But, as they've been trying to outscore opponents and things like that, he's taken off a little bit more. He's taken some hits as a result, so we've got to limit his scrambling."
