Show notes
The Cleveland Browns had a chance to escape Cincinnati Bengals without injuries, but Shelby Harris went down in the 2nd quarter with the Browns trailing 21-0.
Jeff Driskel threw two INTs in the first half. The game was hideous, ugly, disgusting all around, but it doesn't matter because the Browns are heading to the PLAYOFFS!
__________
SERIES RECORD: Bengals lead 52-48.
LAST MEETING: Browns beat Bengals 24-3 on Sept. 10 in Cleveland.
LAST WEEK: Browns beat Jets 37-20; Bengals lost to Chiefs 25-17.
BROWNS OFFENSE: OVERALL (11), RUSH (11), PASS (19), SCORING (9).
BROWNS DEFENSE: OVERALL (1), RUSH (10), PASS (1), SCORING (11).
BENGALS OFFENSE: OVERALL (22), RUSH (32), PASS (11), SCORING (20).
BENGALS DEFENSE: OVERALL (31), RUSH (26), PASS (29), SCORING (T21).
TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Browns minus-8; Bengals plus-9.
BROWNS PLAYER TO WATCH: QB Jeff Driskel. With Joe Flacco sitting out the finale to rest for the playoffs, Driskel makes his Cleveland debut as the fifth quarterback to start for the Browns this season. The 30-year-old Driskel was recently signed off Arizona's practice squad and this could be an audition for him to back up Flacco in the postseason. Driskel made five starts for the Bengals in 2018.
BENGALS PLAYER TO WATCH: DE Trey Hendrickson is tied with Pittsburgh's T.J. Watt for the NFL lead in sacks with a career-high 17. His strip-sack of Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes last week marked his seventh straight game with at least a full sack. No Cincinnati player has led the NFL in sacks since the league began tracking them in 1982. Hendrickson was elected to the Pro Bowl Wednesday.
KEY MATCHUP: The Browns vs. their painful injury history. Cleveland just wants to get out of this game as healthy as possible in advance of its wild-card matchup. Coach Kevin Stefanski is sitting many of his starters for rest and to hopefully avoid losing anyone else.
KEY INJURIES: Browns K Dustin Hopkins (hamstring) will miss his second straight game and his status remains unclear for the playoffs. Before he got hurt against Houston on Dec. 23, Hopkins was the league's most accurate kicker. ... Browns WR Elijah Moore (concussion) returned to practice this week and is questionable. ... Browns DE Ogbo Okoronkwo (pectoral) could be back after missing two games. ... Browns P Corey Bojorquez (quad) will likely be back following a one-game absence. ... Browns LB and captain Anthony Walker (knee) went on injured reserve, the 13th player for Cleveland this season. ... Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase — selected to the Pro Bowl on Wednesday — is still recovering from a sprained shoulder joint but said earlier in the week he plans to play. ... Bengals WR Tee Higgins (hamstring) is questionable.
SERIES Game notes
The Cleveland Browns have won six of the past seven meetings, and nine of the past 11.
The Cincinnati Bengals have played more games against Cleveland (100) than any foe except Pittsburgh (109). ... When Cleveland swept Cincinnati in 2018, it was the Browns’ first season sweep over the Bengals since 2002. ... Cincinnati's longest win streak was seven in 2014-17. The Browns won seven straight in 1992-95. ... Cincinnati lost to Cleveland 21-16 on Jan. 9, 2022, as the Bengals rested most of their starters ahead of the playoffs. The Bengals advanced to the Super Bowl.
____
Kevin Stefanski made it official - newly signed Jeff Driskel will be QB1 for the Cleveland Browns against the the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 18. PJ Walker will be Driskel's backup.
Driskel has made 10 starts in his NFL career, going 1-9 in those 10 starts despite throwing 14 TDs in those games. Walker went 2-1 in his starts for the Browns but had a 1-5 turnover ratio in those games.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
Stay Connected
