The Bengals playoff push continues as Cincinnati hosts the Cleveland Browns.
Cincinnati is 6-8 on the season and winners of two straight over Dallas (27-20) and Tennessee (37-27). The Bengals need a lot of help to make the playoffs but it starts with winning out against Cleveland, Denver, and Pittsburgh, which is more than possible. Since the bye week, the Bengals offense has scored 38, 27, and 37 points, so this meeting could be a possible shootout compared to the 21-14 win for Cincy in Week 7.
Cleveland is 3-11 and has lost three straight games to the Broncos (41-32), Steelers (27-14), and Chiefs (21-7). The Browns are looking to play spoiler, but it won’t be easy the next three games with the Bengals, Dolphins, and Ravens all in the playoff hunt. The good news for Cleveland, they are 2-5 with Jameis Winston compared to 1-6 with Deshaun Watson.
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Game Details and How to watch the Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns on Sunday
· Date: Sunday, December 22, 2024
· Time: 1:00 PM EST
· Site: Paycor Stadium
· City: Cincinnati, OH
· TV/Streaming: CBS
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Game odds for Bengals vs. Browns
The latest odds as of Friday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Cincinnati Bengals (-455), Cleveland Browns (+350)
Spread: Bengals -8.5 (-115)
Total: 46.5
The opening spread has not moved off Bengals -8.5 but the opening total of 49.5 has moved three-whole points past the key number of 47 to 46.5 at most shops.
Expert picks & predictions for Bengals vs Browns
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NBC Sports Bet Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes Joe Burrow to go Under 0.5 interceptions against the Browns:
“The Browns defense has four interceptions on the season, ranking tied for the second-fewest in the NFL. Burrow has eight interceptions on the year and four of those five have come in the past three games, so he is taking chances.
However, the playoff hunt is on and the Bengals season is still alive. I think Burrow has a clean outing against Cleveland, similar to his 15-of-25 outing for two touchdowns and no turnovers earlier this season.
The Bengals are -8.5 point favorites, so the script should be in their favor, as well as it being DTR’s first start of the season. Burrow doesn’t have to be amazing in this start, just play a clean game and get the win.”
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Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns team stats, betting trends
- The Bengals are 8-6 ATS but 1-5 ATS as the home team, ranking third-worst.
- The Browns are 4-10 ATS, ranking tied for second-worst.
- Cincinnati is 1-4 ATS as a home favorite.
- Cleveland is 2-3 ATS as a road underdog.
- The Browns are 8-6 to the Under and 3-2 as a road underdog.
- The Bengals are 10-4 to the Over, ranking tied for second-best.
- Jerry Juedy recorded 108 yards last week, the third time in five games he surpassed 100 yards.
- Joe Burrow had three touchdowns and two picks against Tennessee. Burrow has thrown an interception in three straight.
- Ja’Marr Chase caught nine passes on 11 targets for 94 yards last week. He leads the NFL in receptions (102), receiving yards (1,413) and receiving touchdowns (15).
- Tee Higgins caught a touchdown on five receptions for 88 yards last week and scored in four of the past five games.
- Chase Brown had a season-high 25 carries last week and converted that into 97 yards and a touchdown.
Quarterback matchup for Cincinnati vs. Cleveland
Cincinnati: Joe Burrow – If the Bengals had a winning record, Joe Burrow would be a top-three candidate for MVP with the numbers he’s putting up. Burrow has an NFL-best 36 touchdowns and 3,977 passing yards, plus a 68.5 completion percentage. It appears he will set career-highs in almost every category if the remaining three games go as planned.
Cleveland: Dorian Thompson-Robinson - DTR will get his first start of the season. On the year, DTR has 100 passing yards and three interceptions to zero touchdowns. DTR threw a pick on 4-of-9 passing versus the Chiefs last week.
Bengals and Browns injury update
Cincy’s DT Sheldon Rankins (illness), OT Orlando Brown (knee), and LB Jon Bachie (groin) are out, while WR Charlie Jones (groin) and G Cody Ford (illness) are questionable.
(For the Browns, RB Nick Chubb (foot), DT Maurice Hurst (ankle), OT Jedrick Wills (knee), and LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (neck) are out, while WR Cedric Tillman (concussion) and TE David Njoku (hamstring) are questionable.
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