After losing to the Bengals in their first matchup of the season in Week 7, CB Denzel Ward is determined to avenge the loss with a road win over the Browns' division rival.
"Trying to go out and get a win, that's the biggest goal," Ward said. "They got us last time and we're just ready to go out there and compete and, like I said, the biggest thing is trying to find a way to get that win."
For Ward and the Browns to earn a win over the Bengals, they will be tasked with stopping one of the most potent offenses in the NFL.
The Bengals offense has exploded since their last matchup against the Browns, averaging 32 points per game in their seven games played since Week 7. Their season average of 28.5 points per game ranks fifth in the NFL and their 362.5 yards per game ranks 10th in the NFL.
"They're certainly playing at a high level. Scoring a lot of points, putting up a lot of yards," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "They're guys who are supremely talented, who understand what they're doing in their scheme. So, it's a very, very difficult matchup, as you see week in and week out."
As the Browns prepare to take on the Bengals explosive offense in Week 16, they will look to slow down QB Joe Burrow, who has played at a high level throughout the second half of the season.
Since defeating the Browns in Week 7, Burrow has averaged over 316 passing yards per game, throwing 22 touchdowns and six interceptions across a seven-game span. Burrow has thrown for three or more touchdowns in each of his last six games, the longest active streak in the NFL.
"Joe's a great quarterback and he's continued to play well, and the numbers are showing that for him," Ward said. "He's a great quarterback and he's going to present a challenge for us."
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 December 18, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) 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.
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.
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.
Cornerback Chigozie Anusiem (35) 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.
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.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Running back Jacob Kibodi (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 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 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.
Tight end Brenden Bates (82) 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.
Defensive end James Houston (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 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.
Burrow's strong performance this season has been fueled by his connection with WR Ja'Marr Chase, who is on track for a historic season in his fourth year in the NFL. Chase has 102 receptions for 1,413 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns this season, all of which lead the NFL. If Chase holds on to lead the NFL in all three categories, he will be just the 18th receiver in NFL history to do so, with the most recent being Rams WR Cooper Kupp in 2021.
"I think when he's covered, they still have great confidence in him," Stefanski said. "They get him the ball in places where you'd say, 'hey, he's not open,' but he makes himself open. They move him around the formation – he can line up in the backfield, in the slot, outside, wide – so, they do a really good job of moving him around."
Ward called Chase a "top five receiver" and said he was eager to take on the challenge of defending Chase as much as possible.
"I want all those targets that he's going to get," Ward said. "As many targets as he gets, I'm going to get all those targets and just be able to make plays on the ball and help the team as best as I can."
Ward and the Browns were effective in stalling Chase in their last matchup, holding him to just five receptions for 55 yards in his last matchup against the Browns, the third-fewest yards he's had in a single game this season. He did, however, score an 18-yard touchdown in the third quarter as the Bengals pulled away from the Browns to secure the win.
Ward thinks that the pieces the Browns have in place in the secondary are designed especially to counter Chase and the other talented receivers in the AFC North.
"(The Browns front office) selected guys to match up with guys in our division," Ward said. "I think they did a good job with selecting us to come in and take away guys like that and give them their best match up compared to other guys they may go against in this league."
After starting CB Greg Newsome II landed on the injured reserve list with a hamstring injury, CB Cameron Mitchell stepped up in his place in Week 15 against the Chiefs. Starting CB Martin Emerson Jr.'s placement in the league's concussion protocol could mean an even larger role for Mitchell should Emerson be out against the Bengals.
Rookie CB Myles Harden could also see an increased role if Emerson is out. Against the Chiefs, Mitchell played 89 percent of defensive snaps, recording five tackles and a pass defensed, while Harden played 55 percent of defensive snaps, recording two tackles.
"Cam has been doing a great job. Stepped in with no drop off at all. And Myles, he's getting more reps and coming in. He's doing well, and I think he's going to continue to get better with more reps," Ward said.
As the Browns look to build momentum over their remaining three games, a win over a division rival would go a long way to establishing a winning culture, according to Ward.
"The biggest thing is to try and finish strong and continue to lay that foundation, continue to build a culture around here and we've got to get on a winning mark and become a winning team," Ward said. "So, continue to finish strong and play hard and fight to the end is going to be our goal."
