Heisman Trophy winner and Ohio-native Joe Burrow is likely to join the AFC North as the Bengals' No. 1 pick in the 2020 draft. (USAToday.com)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is an analyst on the Cleveland Browns for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Browns v. Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday, 1 p.m., in Paul Brown Stadium
Record: 1-14.
Last game: Lost to Miami Dolphins, 38-35 (OT), Dec. 22, in Miami Gardens, FL.
Coach: Zac Taylor, 1-14, first year.
Series record: Bengals lead, 50-42.
Last meeting: Browns won, 27-19, Dec. 9, in Cleveland.
League rankings: Offense is 26th overall (28th rushing, 17th passing), defense is 30th overall (32nd rushing, 21st passing) and turnover differential is minus-16.
Things I think
1.It’s amazing how these young, offensive-minded gurus lose sight of their No. 1 task – winning games. Taylor is a branch from the Sean McVay coaching tree. He wants to throw, throw, throw out of the three-receiver formation, aka 11 personnel. The Bengals are fourth in the league with 588 pass attempts. Yet they have a terrible offensive line that lacks continuity and their receiving targets have been reduced by injuries. Their best offensive threat is running back Joe Mixon (975 yards). No defense respects Taylor’s passing game enough to move the safety out of the tackling box. So Taylor keeps throwing and hoping somebody will make plays in the passing game. The only hopes are receiver Tyler Boyd and tight end Tyler Eifert. Cover them and you pretty much paralyze the Bengals’ offense.
2.When the team separated from Marvin Lewis, the defense took the greatest hit. First-time coordinator Lou Anarumo came up as a defensive backs coach with the Dolphins and Giants. The vestiges of the Lewis era are the defense’s best players – tackle Geno Atkins, pass rusher Carlos Dunlap and nickel back Darqueze Dennard. There is some young talent in pass rusher Sam Hubbard and linebacker Nick Vigil, but this side of the team has a long way to go to be competitive. The Bengals are 25th in points allowed, 31st in yards, 32nd against the run, 30th in interceptions and 32nd in turnovers.
3.The special teams have been ranked No. 1 most of the year and they added to their special season by recovering an onside kick against the Dolphins and setting up their offense to send the game into overtime.
4.The Bengals will have an interesting offseason because they have clinched the No. 1 pick in the draft and most likely will select LSU quarterback and Ohio-native Joe Burrow. But they also have to decide whether to keep incumbent starter Andy Dalton as their “bridge quarterback.” Dalton, 32, has a year left on his contract for $17.5 million. That is below the average salary for a starting quarterback, but the Bengals might be enticed to trade Dalton to a team that feels it is a competent veteran quarterback away from competing for a playoff spot. If the Bengals do that, they will have to acquire another veteran to help usher in the Burrow era.
Did you know … ?
1.Wide receiver A.J. Green’s season finally was shut down because of an ankle injury suffered on the first day of training camp. Green, 31, can be a free agent in March, unless the Bengals tag him as their franchise player. Green has said he will not report to the team’s offseason conditioning program if they franchise tag him.
2.The Bengals have used seven different offensive line configurations in 15 games. They need to solidify their offensive line in the offseason to introduce the Burrow era. They will get back offensive tackle Jonah Williams, their No. 1 pick in 2018. They also could dip into free agency and the draft for more reinforcements.
3.A win would give the Browns a series sweep for the second year in a row.
Small world: President and General Manager Mike Brown is the son of Paul Brown, who was the founding coach of the Browns and later founded the Bengals … Defensive line coach Nick Eason played for the Browns in 2004-06 and was a coaching intern in 2013 … Tight end Mason Schreck (practice squad) attended Medina High School.