Joe Burrow tossed four interceptions in the first game of this season. Since then, he's thrown one and has risen to fifth in the NFL with a 102.7 passer rating.
Cleveland Browns scouting report: Cincinnati Bengals
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is an analyst on the Cleveland Browns for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Browns v. Cincinnati Bengals
Monday, 8:15 p.m. in FirstEnergy Stadium
Record: 4-3.
Last game: Defeated Atlanta Falcons, 35-17, Oct. 23, in Cincinnati.
Coach: Zac Taylor, 20-35-1, fourth year.
Series record: Bengals lead, 51-46.
Last meeting: Browns won, 21-16, Jan. 9, in Cleveland.
League rankings: Offense is 11th overall (28th rushing, fifth passing), defense is 11th overall (19th rushing, ninth passing) and turnover differential is zero.
Things to watch
1. After a slow start, they’re resembling their AFC Champion selves of late, winning four of their last five to match Baltimore’s 4-3 record. But they’re 0-2 in division games, losing to field goals at the final gun to Pittsburgh and Baltimore. Thus, this game actually means more to the Bengals than the Browns. In the past 10 seasons, the AFC North division winner has won no fewer than four division games each year. The Bengals would have to win all of their four remaining division games to meet that protocol, starting Monday night against the Browns.
2. Joe Burrow threw two touchdowns and four interceptions and was sacked seven times in a season-opening loss to the Steelers. In the ensuing six games, Burrow has 13 touchdowns and one interception and has averaged 2.8 sacks. What’s happened? A. Burrow didn’t play in preseason because of an appendectomy in August and was rusty to start. B. Four new starters on his offensive line didn’t play together in preseason and they were rusty to start. C. Defenses have had a full year to study the Bengals’ explosive passing game, resulting in adjustments by the Bengals. D. Burrow grew up in the shotgun formation since playing at Athens High School and LSU, and recently the Bengals have gone almost exclusively shotgun. E. Taylor is calling more pass plays. The Bengals pass-run ratio is 63 to 37. Last year it was 59 to 41.
3. As a rookie, Burrow was sacked 32 times before suffering a season-ending torn ACL in Game 10. He came back strong in 2021, but still led the NFL in 2021 with 51 sacks. The Bengals responded by signing three offensive line starters in free agency – center Ted Karras (Patriots), right guard Alex Cappa (Buccaneers) and right tackle La’el Collins (Cowboys). Rookie left guard Cordell Volson, a fourth-round pick from North Dakota State, is the fourth new starter from a year ago. The only returner is veteran left tackle Jonah Williams. After a shaky debut, the line – coached by Bill Callahan disciple Frank Pollack – has steadily improved.
4. Bengals receivers Ja’Marr Chase (605 yards), Tee Higgins (455) and Tyler Boyd (455) rank sixth, 18th and 18th in receiving yards in the NFL. Amari Cooper, the Browns’ leading receiver with 422 yards, ranks 22nd.
5. The Bengals’ defense is vastly overshadowed by its star-studded offense. But the truth is, the defense propelled the team to the AFC title last year and has picked up where it left off. The Bengals have not allowed a touchdown in the second half through seven games – a feat accomplished by only two other teams since 1970. They have playmakers at every position group – ends Sam Hubbard and Trey Hendrickson, linebacker Logan Wilson, and a pair of safeties in Vonn Bell and Jessie Bates that are among the best tandems in the NFL. They should be vulnerable against the run right now after losing their top two nose tackles to injury. D.J. Reader (knee) is on injured reserve and top backup Josh Tupou (calf) missed the last game. Yet the Bengals held the Falcons to 107 yards rushing and no run longer than 11 yards.
Did you know … ?
1. Second-year place-kicker Evan McPherson, who was 12 for 12 in field goals in Cincinnati’s amazing run to the Super Bowl last year, is 11 of 13 this year, including makes from 59, 57, 52 and 50 yards.
2. Since the start of the 2021 season, the two highest-passing games in the NFL have been turned in by Joe Burrow. He threw for a franchise-record 525 yards last year against the Ravens and 481 last week against the Falcons. Burrow also had a 446-yard passing game against the Chiefs on Jan. 2.
3. The Browns are 4-0 against the Bengals under Kevin Stefanski.
4. Burrow is 0-3 against the Browns, losing each time to Baker Mayfield. He has the chance to break both skeins in back-to-back games. After playing the Browns on Monday night, the Bengals host the Carolina Panthers, Mayfield’s new team, next week. Mayfield, though, has lost the starting job to P.J. Walker.
5. Each of the Bengals’ losses have come on field goals at the final gun. Pittsburgh’s Chris Boswell beat them from 53 yards in Game 1, Dallas’ Brett Maher beat them from 50 yards in Game 2, and Baltimore’s Justin Tucker beat them from 43 yards in Game 5. Last plays of the game, each of them.
Small world: Owner/president and de facto general manager Mike Brown is the son of Paul Brown, founding coach of the Cleveland Browns and founder of the Bengals. He was born in Massillon and grew up in Shaker Heights … Offensive coordinator Brian Callahan is son of Browns offensive line coach Bill Callahan … Defensive quality control control coach Lou Cioffi was Browns defensive backs coach in 2013 and 2016.
