After a three-game road stretch, the Browns will make their long-awaited return to Huntington Bank Field on Sunday, when they will face the 2-4 Bengals in their first division game of the season.
The Browns, with a 1-5 record, are in desperate need of a win, and a home victory over a division rival could provide a much-needed spark for Cleveland.
"I think we're ready. They're kind of fighting for wins too right now, so it'll be a good challenge for us," LG Joel Bitonio said on Thursday.
The Browns offense is the only one in the NFL that has yet to score above 20 points in a game this season. Meanwhile, the Bengals defense has allowed 25.3 points per game this season, the seventh-most in the NFL this season.
Much of the Bengals' struggles at keeping their opponents have come as a result of their difficulty pressuring opposing quarterbacks. Their 30.4 percent pressure rate ranks 11th worst in the league, while their eight sacks rank third worst this year. However, in their most recent game against the Giants, the Bengals defense appeared to flip a switch.
DE Trey Hendrickson had two sacks, and the Bengals defense combined for 15 quarterback pressures, holding QB Daniel Jones to a 57.5 passer rating. The Bengals defense allowed just seven points in their 17-7 victory in Week 6.
"Obviously, they've got guys who can rush the passer, they've got some big physical players," offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey said Thursday of the Bengals defense. "They've got linebackers who have been in that system for a long time. Athletic coverage guys who can play in coverage. But I do think the big thing for them is you can 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 who are doing these things effectively."
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.
Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo has been calling the Bengals defense since the 2019 season, and earned praise from Dorsey for his ability to disguise coverages and pass rush looks to confuse opposing quarterbacks.
With a veteran group led by Hendrickson, DE Sam Hubbard and LB Logan Wilson, much of the Bengals defense has years of experience working with Anarumo's scheme.
"[Anarumo] does a great job in giving you different looks," Dorsey said. "It's a unit that's been together for a long time. Obviously, they've been there as a staff for a long time, they have a lot of players with a lot of experience within that system, so they can do some different things that they feel very comfortable with that changes the picture a lot for the offense."
One way the Browns could take advantage of the Bengals defense is in their ability to run the football. While it is not entirely clear which running backs will be available for Cleveland on Sunday, as RB Nick Chubb was a full participant in Wednesday's practice and RB Jerome Ford did not practice, the Bengals have shown that its run defense can be a weakness.
The Bengals allow 146 rushing yards per game, the fifth-most in the NFL. They have struggled to bring down ball carriers, allowing over 3.3 yards after contact per attempt per Next Gen Stats.
The Browns rushing attack looked strong in the second half of their Week 6 loss to the Eagles and is something they look to continue strengthening as the season progresses.
"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," Dorsey said. "So, I think that's something we always are striving for. Unfortunately, in some games we haven't been able to do that for one reason or another. But as a coach, and as a coordinator/play-caller, and I know Kevin I'm sure feels the same way, you always want to be able to attack a defense with that balance and maintain that."
Behind a good run game is a strong offensive line, and the Browns have rotated players in and out of their front five due to injuries. Starting RT Jack Conklin saw his first action this season in Week 6, but an injury to C Nick Harris forced some shuffling in the interior offensive line, as G Michael Dunn moved to center and rookie Zak Zinter came in at right guard.
With starting C Ethan Pocic not practicing on Wednesday, but back at practice on Thursday, there is a chance Dunn will have to play center again on Sunday if necessary. Dorsey said he was impressed with Dunn's ability to communicate on the fly after being thrust into a position he typically does not play.
"Minus three plays, he played the full game last week. He came in and did a good job," Dorsey said. "The thing I was really impressed with was the communication aspect of it, to make sure everyone was on the same page. Obviously, the center drives that train a lot, so I feel like he had guys in the right spots with his communication – whether it was the backs, the rest of the line, the tight ends."
Despite the injuries across the offensive line and running back room, the Browns are not looking to make excuses as they approach a Week 7 matchup with big implications on the rest of the season.
"Guys have to be ready to play and step up, and that's the NFL," Dorsey said. "That's something we pride ourselves here when you look at past years, and this year's gotta be no different."
