The Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns collide Sunday in the first of two in-state matchups as the season winds down.
Those Browns would like to continue the dominance established in the series a year ago, while the Bengals would simply like to grab win No. 2 on the season.
We sat down with Jeff Risdon, managing editor of Browns Wire, for a Q&A to get a better idea of what to expect.
Bengals Wire: The Browns have won three of four but lost to Pittsburgh. Was that a sign of things to come or a small hiccup against a rival?
Jeff Risdon: It might actually be both, as crazy as that sounds. No team in modern recollection is more complicit in the outcomes of its own games than these Browns. They can destroy anyone–ask Baltimore. But when they don’t focus on the details and fail to execute smart football, they’re a disaster.
Pittsburgh was smart enough to let the Browns immolate themselves to the football gods, and Freddie Kitchens kept pouring gasoline all over the scene. If they can do that in a de facto playoff game against a hated rival, they can do it against anyone.
Bengals Wire: How has the defense changed since losing Myles Garrett?
Jeff Risdon: Myles Garrett is sorely missed. He was the only guy who could really win 1-on-1 as a pass rusher. It has not helped that Olivier Vernon has played 10 snaps in the last four weeks because of a knee injury.
The Browns do still generate pressure. Chad Thomas has stepped up in his second season. Moving Sheldon Richardson around has created some matchups and he’s played fantastic lately. Garrett’s presence against the run has been missed as much as the pass rush. The Browns are playing three LBs more now but they don’t have three good linebackers to play. Rookies Mack Wilson and Sione Takitaki have flashed at times and have bright futures, but they (esp. Wilson) aren’t ready for the expanded roles just yet.
Bengals Wire: Do you get the sense distractions (Odell Beckham, etc.) are having an impact on the team?
Jeff Risdon: The media, both local and national, seems to thrive on hammering at every little fissure in the Browns foundation. My perception from both being with the team but also away from it most of the time is that the players find it all kind of silly and mildly annoying. When Beckham says he just wants to win and is happy for best friend Jarvis Landry leading the team in receiving, I believe him.
On a different level, I think how coach Kitchens has handled and responded to all the distractions has been part of the reason why he’s floundered as a rookie coach. I don’t believe he anticipated anything like that being part of his job and it shows.
Bengals Wire: Any info and/or thoughts on the Baker Mayfield hand injury?
Jeff Risdon: He appears to be fine. Mayfield threw without a glove on Thursday and Friday. His throwing hand is probably sore but he didn’t suffer any damage. Browns fans are kind of curious if Mayfield will be like Ben Roethlisberger and embellish his perceived agony for heroic drama purposes.
Bengals Wire: Will this be the Bengals starting a winning streak or the Browns getting back on track?
Jeff Risdon: I’ve got the Browns winning by a touchdown, but it would not surprise me if the Andy Dalton magic carried Cincinnati to a win. I just don’t see the Bengals defense getting enough stops, especially if Kitchens remembers Nick Chubb is the NFL’s best running back.
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