Bengals vs. Browns: What's the Game Plan for Cleveland?

The Cleveland Browns (2-9) and Cincinnati Bengals (9-2) are on opposite trajectories as they prepare for 2015’s second installment of The Battle of Ohio.

Management and personnel turnover following losing season after losing season haven’t helped the Browns reverse their fortunes. Meanwhile Bengals boss Marvin Lewis, the second-longest tenured head coach in the NFL, has enjoyed winning football and five playoff appearances over the last six years.

The Browns have had a different quarterback and running back lead the team in all but two of those seasons. Head coaches? They have had four over those last six seasons.

If you want to write the book on how not to run a franchise, it’s clear to see consistency is arguably as important as finding the right players.

Cleveland has done neither, and it is now staring down another losing season. The question that remains is how it will finish, and whether owner Jimmy Haslam will hit the reset button once again.

Offensive Game Plan

The Browns need to be more effective and more committed to running the football this week—and every week, really. Their run game has been unimaginative, and their offensive line isn’t getting much push up front.

The team’s 3.4 yards per carry is the worst in the NFL, and they have averaged just 17 attempts and 46.5 yards per game over their last four contests. They are also last in rushing yards and second-to-last in attempts.

Cincinnati typically rushes the passer with its front four, and won’t dial-up too many blitzes. But with Austin Davis likely to be limited to short and intermediate throws, that could change this week as the Bengals will likely position more defenders near the line of scrimmage to stop Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson.

Taking some deep shots to Travis Benjamin early could help their offense find some balance, especially if they are successful. In Cincinnati in Week 9, the speedy receiver caught just three passes for 22 yards.

Defensive Game Plan

Defensively, the Browns have to do something to limit Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill. The two have annihilated the Browns with 351 yards rushing over their last two matchups.

Replacing players isn’t an option until the offseason, so they’ll need to do some different things schematically to try to keep those two backs in check. Although they have done it some, more four-man fronts might be an option to help stop the bleeding.

They don’t necessarily have the personnel to stay in a 4-3 front, but if they moved Paul Kruger and Armonty Bryant to defensive end, and kept Craig Robertson and Chris Kirksey on the field at the same time, it could work.

Now is the time to make these type of adjustments, and others, as winning in the present should be sacrificed for trying to take positive strides in personnel development.

Key Player Matchups

DL Desmond Bryant vs. OG Clint Boling

Desmond Bryant hasn’t been an imposing threat to offenses. His 20 total tackles are barely recognizable throughout the year, but he did sack Dalton the last time these two teams met. He beat guard Clint Boling quickly off the snap from his defensive end position.

Boling was, and continues to be, in discussion as one of the best left guards in the league. It’ll take a big day from Bryant to be able to get on the stat sheet again, and if he does, expect the Bengals to have a tough time moving the ball.

DL Geno Atkins vs. OG Joel Bitonio and OC Alex Mack

Joel Bitonio might be back this week, but he is still questionable after being limited in practice throughout the week, according to the team’s latest injury report (h/t Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer).

Thankfully, the second-year guard said he’s confident he’ll play this week, per Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.

If he misses another game, though, rookie Cam Erving will have to play the game of his life to help keep Geno Atkins from collapsing the team’s interior offensive line. Atkins is responsible for eight of his team’s 29 sacks and is a disruptive force on every play.

WR A.J. Green vs. CB Tramon Williams

Tight end Tyler Eifert torched Tramon Williams and Tashaun Gipson for three touchdowns in these teams’ Week 9 meeting. He’s doubtful to play, but the Bengals aren’t bereft of other passing options.

Standout receiver A.J. Green will likely draw Williams in coverage most of the day, as Joe Haden has already been ruled out after suffering his second concussion of the season a few weeks ago. Green has been limited by Haden and hasn’t scored a touchdown in their last five matchups.

The Browns’ worst-ranked rushing defense hasn’t allowed more than 104 yards over their last two games, making Green a focal point for them this week. If the veteran corner can slow him, as Haden has, Dalton will have to rely on his running game to again do its damage. They put up 152 yards on the ground in their last meeting.

Prediction

The Browns could play relatively well; they are an NFL team, after all. But this is a bad matchup on both sides of the ball. Cincinnati can and will effectively run to chew the clock, especially if it takes an early lead.

Cleveland will try, and likely fail, to get its running game rolling despite Cincinnati being vulnerable on the ground.

That leaves special teams, and if you watched Monday Night Football last week, chances are the Browns are out of luck in that area, too.

Final Prediction: Bengals 27, Browns 17