Dissecting Most Crucial Matchups in Browns Week 10 Contest with Bengals

The Cleveland Browns (5-3) march into Cincinnati's Paul Brown Stadium for a Thursday night showcase to throw down with the Cincinnati Bengals (5-2-1).

First place in the AFC North is on the line, and the Bengals haven't lost a regular-season home game since 2012. Just another day at the office for a Browns team that's clawed its way through every inch of this season.

Cleveland also faces a team with a winning record for the first time since they thumped Pittsburgh in Week 6. 

There are several key head-to-head battles, but let's focus on three of the most intriguing.

Browns CB Joe Haden vs. Bengals WR A.J. Green

This respectful rivalry goes all the way back to college. What fan of either of these teams doesn't enjoy the biannual battle between Cleveland cornerback Joe Haden and Cincinnati wide receiver A.J. Green?

Haden always seems to hold Green in for most of a game, except for one huge that turns the tide. At least up until last season.

In his rookie year, Green rumbled off 41 and 51-yard receptions. 2012 had the duo match up only once because of Haden's suspension. In that Oct. 14 encounter, the speedy Bengal burned the Browns for two touchdowns and a long gallop of 57 yards.

2013, Haden's Pro Bowl campaign, saw the Browns corner get the advantage. Green gained just 51 and seven yards with zero scores over their pair of matchups. Maybe Haden finally has the edge.

Thursday night's encounter will be intriguing since Green has missed three games due to an injured toe and had only three catches for 44 yards in Cincinnati's win over Jacksonville Sunday. That was the first time he'd played in nearly a month.

Cleveland's No. 23 has seemingly rebounded from a shaky start to 2014. He's taking fewer penalties and seems energized since breaking up a couple of important passes against Oakland two weeks ago. However, those successes came via the hapless Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers offenses.

Green will presumably be healthier than he's been in weeks, if there are no setbacks, and Haden's confidence is rolling. The stage is set for another classic faceoff.

Browns C Nick McDonald vs. Bengals DT Geno Atkins/Defensive Line

Well it couldn't have gone much worse for new Browns center Nick McDonald last Sunday.

Tampa Bay's stud defensive tackle Gerald McCoy blew through McDonald like he was air on at least two occasions and negated any effort the center made at creating rushing lanes.

Cleveland running backs Ben Tate and Terrance West combined for a 1.9 yard-per-carry average in the win over the , and naturally much of the blame fell on the offensive line.

Head coach Mike Pettine commented this week, via the Akron Beacon Journal's Nate Ulrich:

General manager Ray Farmer's opinion is not shaken on McDonald's potential:

At this point in the year Farmer doesn't really have a choice except to stick with McDonald. Outside of a trade or blind luck on an available free agent, there is no other option for Cleveland.

Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan's zone-blocking scheme is geared around the line being a cohesive unit, moving like a fence in unison. That takes practice experience. With each passing week McDonald gets more of both.

McDonald will have his hands full versus the super athletic Geno Atkins who, when healthy, is one of the best defensive tackles in the league. He's worked his way back from a torn ACL last season and has been progressively getting better throughout 2014.

Atkins had 12.5 sacks in 2012 and 6.0 in nine games before the injury last year. He's equally as dominant a pass-rusher as he is a run-stopper when fully healthy.

Surely the Bengals have targeted the center spot as the weak point of the Browns' otherwise stellar group. The 6'3", 322-pound tackle to the left of Atkins, Domata Peko, is another threat to crash through the O-line's middle.

Cincinnati's run defense is ranked 30th in the NFL, so there will be no excuses if the Browns ground attack comes up flat once again.

Browns Front Seven vs. Bengals Running Backs

Cleveland's front seven will have its collective hands full versus Cincinnati's backfield this Thursday night.

Feature back Giovani Bernard is likely out again with a hip injury, but that hasn't stopped the Bengals from racking up yards on the ground, as rookie Jeremy Hill tore through Jacksonville in Week 9.

Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland illustrates how good Cincinnati has been on the ground:

"If running back Giovani Bernard doesn’t play, Jackson will commit to rookie Jeremy Hill, who turned in 154 yards v. Jacksonville. Hill’s 60-yard touchdown run was the second 60-plus yard run by a Bengals back in the past three games."

"You think the Browns have a lot of touchdown runs? The Bengals lead the NFL with 12 – double the league average."

Hill has also had decent production in a backup capacity all season both as a pass-catcher and taking handoffs. He's thrived when given the more playing time, and that's a scary thought for the Browns' Swiss cheese run defense.  

What can Cleveland do to stop this rush?

David Kohl/Associated Press

There really seems to be no rhyme or reason as to why this team keeps making stars out of unknown running backs like Baltimore's Lorenzo Taliaferro, Jacksonville's Denard Robinson or Tampa Bay's journeyman Bobby Rainey.

That front absolutely must elevate their level of play to avoid Hill galloping over them all night. Slow down the rush, force quarterback Andy Dalton to throw and hope to capitalize on his traditionally poor decision-making.

Final Score Prediction:

Browns shock a national audience and take first place in the AFC North courtesy of a wild 32-30 victory.

Andy McNamara is an international sports broadcaster and journalist.

Follow Andy on Twitter @AndyMc81