Game preview: Week 4, Browns at Bengals
Posted September 27th, 2008 by Dan
Game time: 1 p.m.
Station: CBS
Where: Paul Brown Stadium
This is it. There is no more educated description for this game. Win this game, a glimmer of hope remains. Lose and the repercussions could have a lasting affect on the Cleveland Browns franchise. Head coach Romeo Crennel could be gone. Derek Anderson could be out as the starting quarterback.
Does that make it sound important enough? Well then, onto the preview.
When Cleveland has the ball: Cincinnati is pretty terrible against the run. They've given up more than 500 yards rushing in just three games. So, this is the time for Jamal Lewis to finally earn the contract he received in the offseason. Or, maybe Jerome Harrison can get some additional touches. For the Browns, this could truly be a game where they just grind it out and set up the occasional pass. And when those passes do come, Kellen Winslow needs to be the recipient.
Also on the plus side for Cleveland is the fact that Cincinnati really struggles to get pressure on the quarterback.
When Cincinnati has the ball: Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer has all the mobility of a construction worker in eyesight of an attractive woman. Because of that, it will be imperative for the Browns to get some kind of pressure on him. Doing that will help cornerbacks Brandon McDonald and Eric Wright as they face their toughest challenge going up against T.J. Houshmanzadeh and Chad Johnson (note: I will not refer to him as Chad Ocho Cinco. It is stupid). If Kamerion Wimbley decides to hustle all game, instead of just on third downs, this could finally be the game where he reemerges. And it's not like pressure will be coming from the other side because the coaching staff seems to refuse play Alex Hall at outside linebacker in serious situations.
Key matchup: Lewis versus Bengals left defensive tackle Domata Peko. Lewis is big. Peko is much, much bigger. Peko has become a very good run stopper so Lewis might have to run around him, but agility isn't really his specialty.
What Cleveland absolutely has to do to win: Want it. Outside of St. Louis or Kansas City, it seems like no team in the NFL has played with less fire than the Browns. Seriously, when is Anderson going to just yell at Braylon Edwards? Or vice/versa? How often have the defensive player celebrated after or even made a big hit? Crennel is a chill out head coach. The players can't continue playing with that same cool demeanor.
The spread: The Browns are a three and a half point underdog and the over/under is 44.5
The prediction: Cleveland 31, Cincinnati 28
It seems as though the Bengals are just the opponent the Browns need. The matchups should mean a Browns victory. If not, expect a drastic fall out. A big day from Lewis is probable. But if he carries the offense, is Brady Quinn the starter following the bye week?
