An AFC North matchup will be heading our way in Week 18 as the Cleveland Browns host the Cincinnati Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium. Who will reign supreme in this divisional clash? Here's a breakdown of the Bengals vs Browns game.
Cincinnati Bengals installed as -3.5 favorites
The Cincinnati Bengals clinched the AFC North title for the first time since 2015 with a thrilling 34-31 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17. It was a big victory for the Bengals, who maintained their No. 3 ranking in the AFC standings.
The victory did not come easy for the Bengals, who trailed 14-0, 21-7, and 28-14 in the opening half. However, Cincinnati would not be denied as the Bengals clinched their first playoff berth in six years.
Powering Cincinnati's offensive explosion in Week 17 were Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase. Both players shattered team records in their win against the Chiefs. Burrow completed 30 of 39 passes for 446 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in the win against Kansas City. He has already broken Andy Dalton's single-season records with 4,611 yards and 34 touchdowns.
Chase was his favorite target in Week 17, with the former LSU standout catching 11 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns. He made history with that performance, breaking Justin Jefferson's record for most receiving yards in a season by a rookie. Chase now has 1,429 yards this season.
With the division title and the records now secure, the Bengals contemplate resting Burrow and Chase for their regular-season finale against the Browns.
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Cleveland Browns enter Week 18 as +3.5 underdogs
Things are going from bad to worse for the Cleveland Browns as they crashed to their third consecutive defeat with a 26-14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17. The Browns had no answer for T.J. Watt, who recorded four sacks in the Monday Night Football showdown.
Baker Mayfield took a beating in the primetime encounter as he was sacked a total of nine times. He completed 16 of 38 passes for 185 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Mayfield became the first NFL quarterback since 2019 to record 10 consecutive incompletions.
With the Browns already eliminated from playoff contention, Mayfield has decided to undergo surgery on his injured left shoulder as soon as possible. Mayfield tore the labrum in his non-throwing shoulder in Week 2 against the Houston Texans but insisted on playing through the pain the entire season. He has been ineffective since suffering the shoulder injury, ranking 26th in the NFL in QBR with a low 35.2 rating.
With Mayfield's surgery expected to be scheduled this week, the Browns will start Case Keenum as their quarterback for the clash against the Bengals. He previously filled in as a starter for the Browns back in Week 7 in a Thursday Night Football game against the Denver Broncos. Keenum completed 21 of 33 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown in Cleveland's 17-14 win over Denver in that game.
Writer's Prediction
Cleveland wins over Cincinnati.
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