The Browns are back to facing a familiar foe in Week 7. It’s the first rematch of the 2020 season, with the Browns heading down I-71 to Cincinnati to face the Bengals.
Cleveland won the first meeting in Week 2, 35-30. Since then the Bengals have a win, a tie and two ugly losses. To get more in touch with what’s going on with the Browns’ AFC North rival, I talked to Bengals Wire editor Chris Roling.
Thanks to Roling for providing some insight on the current state of the Bengals and his thoughts on the matchup.
It’s been a few weeks since the teams met. How has Joe Burrow progressed from the Week 2 matchup?
Burrow’s becoming more decisive as he goes and he’s finally starting to get some of the deep attempts to connect. He had a brutal rookie outing against a strong Baltimore front, but otherwise, he’s been steady. Onlookers can also see he’s getting a much better feel for what he can and can’t do against defenders as a ball-carrier, as well as what he can get away with versus a pro defensive back’s closing speed, things he usually would’ve worked out during preseason games.
What’s going on with A.J. Green? Is he done?
He’s definitely slower and doesn’t have the benefit of moving into the slot like he needs to because of Tyler Boyd. And there have been some notable timid or downright lackluster efforts at times. It’s hard to say if he’s entirely cooked — he had a strong Week 6 showing, his first of 2020 — or if he’s just very slow in getting back, learning a new offense and overcoming a hamstring issue he had during camp.
There is talk of discontent from Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap. Are they candidates to get traded, or is it noise that will go away if/when the team starts winning?
Dunlap’s absolutely a trade candidate, though who would want to trade or his contract after zero good film this year is hard to say. He’s been very vocal about being a situational pass-rusher only.
Atkins could be a trade candidate, but he’s had a nagging shoulder injury since camp and is only just getting back. If his snap percentages don’t climb, he could end up being a trade candidate, but it’s likely they’re just going really slow with him.
Who are some bright spots that deserve more national attention for their play?
Jessie Bates is playing like one of the best outright safeties in football and could use some more attention. Quietly, young rookie linebackers like Logan Wilson and Akeem Davis-Gaither have turned a corner and really started to look like they’ve solved one of the team’s biggest problem areas.
Offensively, second-round rookie Tee Higgins is starting to make A.J. Green look redundant.
What one matchup with the Browns worries you from a Bengals perspective?
It has to be Myles Garrett or any Browns pass-rusher against this Bengals line. Tackle play has slowly improved on the edges but not against the great players like Garrett. And to be blunt, guard play has looked almost high-schoolish at times, so Burrow figures to be on the run a lot.
Who wins and why?
Browns, 24-21. Cincinnati’s offense will miss Joe Mixon in a bad way and the defense will really struggle without No. 1 corner William Jackson. Even before the final injury report went live, this one seemed like a long shot mostly due to the bad Bengals offensive line.