Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns: Complete Week 15 Preview for Cincinnati
Once again, the Cincinnati Bengals have their backs to the wall after a miserable loss and must prove resilient if AFC North and postseason aspirations are to remain a reality.
Week 15 is Cincinnati's second showdown with the Cleveland Browns this year. The first, of course, was a 24-3 home embarrassment before a three-game winning streak against non-divisional opponents.
Just last week, the Bengals were blown away at home in their first divisional encounter since, this time at the hands of Pittsburgh.
Cleveland is a different team this time around, too. Losers of three of their last four since the win in Cincinnati, the Browns now turn to rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel in the hopes he is the spark that leads to the postseason.
Divisional encounters this time of year are always critical. For the Bengals, the trip to Cleveland represents one last chance to prove game when it matters most.
Week 14 Recap
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No better definition of a late-game collapse exists than the stunt Cincinnati pulled last week with the Pittsburgh Steelers in town.
Cincinnati hit on a deep touchdown to A.J. Green as time expired in the third frame to go up 21-17. Great, right?
The Bengals lost 42-21.
There is no singular blame for the collapse. Andy Dalton and Jeremy Hill seem to take the brunt of it for a botched read-option that Pittsburgh recovered. Fine, but the team as a whole left the realm of competitiveness over the course of the final 15 minutes.
Dalton found his way to 302 yards and a pair of scores. Green went for 224 yards and the aforementioned score. Those stick out as top-tier notes among a wealth of bad vibes at this point.
For things to turn around, the edges of the defense need to pick up and prevent big plays. The offense needs more creativity and to get other players involved. All trench play needs to experience an uptick without extra help.
It is possible, but Josh Gordon and the Browns await.
News and Notes
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No More Committee?
A scratch of the head was common last week as the Cincinnati staff decided to rush Giovani Bernard just six times and get him five targets.
Now it looks like a trend is underway.
Offensive coordinator Hue Jackson hints that the staff is ready to lean on one player as the lead back, per Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com:
"I'm used to having one guy kind of dominate some carries because in order for backs to be really good, they've got to get lathered up to play. You've got to get a feel for the game. We have two capable guys and they're different guys and we'll let it play itself out, but I think we have a pretty good idea which way we're headed…Those guys are very capable. I just don't think I did a very good job this past week.
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The nod figures to go to rookie Jeremy Hill, who is better suited for the work between the tackles.
Richard Skinner of the Cincinnati Enquirer confirms that the staff is set to turn to Hill:
"Per Giovani Bernard: Jeremy Hill will start Sunday in Cleveland. Bernard seemed down about it, but said he'll play do what wants of him
— Richard Skinner (@nkyskinner) December 11, 2014"
His production with Bernard out of the lineup earlier this season was notable. Traditional work for the rookie, in turn, perhaps means work that is more creative for the explosive Bernard.
Tez Gone for Year
The help most continue to hope for is now a non-factor.
Linebacker Vontaze Burfict is gone for the year after a prolonged hiatus on the sideline, as the team reports:
"#Bengals NEWS: -QB McCarron activated from Reserve/Non-Football Injury list -LB Burfict placed on IR pic.twitter.com/l1GAsbcb93
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) December 9, 2014"
Many times this year, it has been simple to think that a defensive lapse would soon be an afterthought by the return of the unit's best player. That is now outside of the realm of possibility, which means the unit will have to make do.
Vincent Rey did come up big with 15 total tackles last week, but sloppy form and missed tackles continue to haunt the unit. If the Bengals are to make the playoffs and get over the proverbial hump, it will come without one of the best linebackers in the league.
AJ McCarron is Johnny Manziel
Here is a strange piece of info.
In order to prep for the unknown that is Cleveland quarterback Johnny Manziel, the Bengals are using a rookie of their own to emulate him. SiriusXM NFL Radio has the scoop:
". @Bengals HC Marvin Lewis on prepping of Manziel: " We are using AJ McCarron to simulate/play Manziel at practice"
— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) December 11, 2014"
McCarron ran a 4.94 40-yard dash at the combine, so whether he has the speed to be a proper Manziel clone is up for debate.
Regardless, the team now has a use for its rookie quarterback. The creativity is admirable, too, as the unit has little in the film department.
Whether the creativity pays off may decide the season.
Injury Report
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| Player | Position | Injury Status |
| Jermaine Gresham | TE | Questionable |
| James Wright | WR | Questionable |
*All injury reports are from ESPN.com. This slide will be updated when the official report is released.
There is not much to see on the injury report this week for Cincinnati now that Vontaze Burfict's name moves over to the injured reserve list.
Jermaine Gresham is a big part of the offense at times, although his issue in the week leading up to Sunday's contest does not sound of the serious variety.
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X-Factor and Matchups to Watch
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Bengals Linebackers vs. Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell
With Vontaze Burfict out of the picture, the Cincinnati linebackers in place can only hope that Sunday is not a repeat of the first encounter between these teams.
In short, Cleveland backs Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell got whatever they wanted on the ground back in Week 10.
West posted 94 yards and a score while Crowell found 41 and paydirt. As a whole, the Browns rushed for 170 yards and three touchdowns on the day while going 7-of-16 on third downs and holding the ball for more than 35 minutes.
This sort of allowance once again, this time on the road, will doom the Bengals in a hurry. Pair it with offensive struggles and the outlook quickly turns bleak. Consistent tackling and gap control is necessary Sunday.
Bengals Defense vs. Johnny Manziel
Johnny Manziel might prove to be a big part of the ground game, too.
The rookie quarterback has left the pocket on six of 11 dropbacks this season already. Observers and the Cincinnati defense understand the damage he can do on the ground and through the air.
In short, contain must be disciplined on the ground, and members of the secondary better expect to remain stuck in coverage for an extended period of time for the second consecutive week.
Sometimes, a shot at a rookie quarterback is a positive.
This time, not so much.
X-Factor of the Week: Andy Dalton
Now is the time for Andy Dalton to silence the critics.
The last two times Dalton has met the Browns, he has thrown for less than 100 yards. This year, he posted that horrific 10-of-33 mark for 86 yards and a trio of interceptions.
It has been an up-and-down season for Dalton, to say the least. Now he hits the road for a divisional contest against a top-10 pass defense. The season may be on the line, too.
Dalton will need to remain cool under surefire pressure, make the right reads and take few risks. This hinges on quality blocking, smart play calls and receivers catching the ball, but it still starts and ends with the quarterback.
Last time out against Cleveland was the worst performance of Dalton's career. A shot at redemption comes Sunday in many ways.
Prediction
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It seems like a war of attrition when it comes to projections for Cincinnati in big games.
Last week was just the latest example after a three-game win streak.
This week, though, the Bengals appear to be in a good spot. Cleveland is a scrappy team, but its quality of play has dipped over the course of the past month or so. In turn, the staff now relies on a rookie under center to save the Browns' season.
The Bengals can capitalize on this decision. While it will be tough to assign more resources to shut down Manziel on the ground, the main focal point will still be on the traditional rushing attack. Josh Gordon will get his through the air, but a few telegraphed passes will lead to extra possessions for the Bengals.
Look for Cincinnati to hold on late and ride a strong ground game against a miserable rush defense. It will by no means be pretty, but Cincinnati has the firepower to take down a struggling team with a rookie at the most important position of all.
Prediction: Bengals 24, Browns 21
Note: Stats courtesy of NFL.com. All advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
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