The "Battle of Ohio" will hold its second installment in Week 16 when the Browns travel to Cincinnati and face the Bengals.
The Browns dropped their first meeting in Week 7, when Cincinnati beat Cleveland 21-14. Yet, the Browns have an opportunity to even up the season series in Week 16.
"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 that are supremely talented, understand what they're doing in their scheme. So, it's a very, very difficult matchup as you see week in and week out."
Here are three keys to Sunday's matchup against the Bengals.
Limit WR Ja'Marr Chase in the pass game
When the Browns faced the Bengals in Week 7, the defense excelled in taking WR Ja'Marr Chase out of the game and limiting his success in the pass game. Chase finished with just five receptions for 55 yards and one touchdown – which came on an 18-yard reception.
This season, Chase has recorded 102 receptions for 1,413 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns, all of which lead the NFL. He's averaging 100.9 receiving yards per game, which is a career high.
"I think when he's covered, they still have great confidence in him," Stefanski said. "So, they get 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."
At different levels of the defense, the Browns have to be aware of Chase. While the secondary must win their one-on-one matchups, it extends to the front seven as well.
"You've got to be able to be sound at every level," LB Jordan Hicks said. "Obviously the DBs are the first initial, and then, we got to be able to have close those windows at linebacker. It's going to take a lot of attention. At the end of the day, it's about execution. It's about everybody doing their job. And obviously the pass rush can help."
Since the last time the Browns played the Bengals in Week 7, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said QB Joe Burrow is making more plays with his feet and extending plays more. In their efforts to outscore opponents, Burrow is finding ways to extend plays. As a defense, not only do they have to be aware of Burrow's ability to do so, but they also have to stay solid in coverage of who he is targeting for the pass. Burrow's main target this season has been Chase, who has 138 targets in 14 games played.
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.
Establish the pass game
While the Browns will have a new face at quarterback this week, as Dorian Thompson-Robinson will make his first start this season, the Browns have an opportunity to take advantage in the pass game against the Bengals.
This season, the Bengals defense is allowing an average of 239.2 passing yards per game, which is ranked 27th in the league. On the other side, the Browns average 217.5 passing yards per game, which is ranked 17th in the league.
WR Jerry Jeudy has led the success of the pass game, as he has been the most targeted receiver for the Browns with 111. He's totaled 70 receptions for 1,052 receiving yards and four touchdowns. When Jameis Winston was under center, Jeudy was one of his main targets. Now, with Thompson-Robinson at quarterback, he not only can look to Jeudy, but can also look to spread the ball around to other pass catchers to keep the Bengals defense honest.
Offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey believes there is a balance that they must strike as an offense in this game. Part of that balance comes from Thompson-Robinson working through his progressions and find the open pass catchers.
"Jerry is playing at an extremely high level right now and playing fast and doing a lot of good things. But at the same time, you've got to be able to stay dangerous with your other weapons as well," Dorsey said. "You should make sure that you're staying balanced in how you're attacking a defense as well so that they can't just focus and then all of a sudden, you're handicapped because they took your primary away."
Limit third down conversions
One week after holding the Chiefs – who lead the league in third down conversion percentage – to just 7 of 18 third down conversions, the Browns will face another top five team in the league in third down conversion percentage.
"That was the top third down team in the NFL," Schwartz said of the Chiefs. "We knew that was going to be a good matchup. I think we won that matchup."
The Bengals are fourth in the league in third down conversion percentage this season, converting 47.46 percent of third down attempts. At home, that percentage is even higher at 56.34 percent. In their Week 15 matchup against the Titans, the Bengals converted 76.92 percent of third downs in their 37-27 win.
This season, the Browns have held opposing offenses to 36.17 percent on third down conversions – which ranks ninth in the NFL. Yet, on the road, that percentage increases, as they have allowed a 41.57 conversion rate in their seven road games this season.
The Browns defense knows the importance of third downs to stop drives and force the opposing offense to punt the ball. Making that third down stop not only can keep points off the board, but it also gives the ball back to their offense.
"Got to get off the field. That's the most important down. Call it the money down," S Grant Delpit said.
