Bengals-Browns Preview

VIDEO PLAYLIST

• Countdown Daily Recap: Bengals-Browns

SCOUTING REPORT

Bengals-Browns: 10 observations After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Bengals-Browns matchup. 1. Cincinnati RB Cedric Benson: He is the guy that has really been the key to the offense, not QB Carson Palmer. In last week's game they could not run the ball in the first half and the offense was grounded. In the second half they ran it effectively and the offense took off. Look for Cincinnati to establish the run early this week in an effort to open up the passing game.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
CIN	7-3	215	167	3-2	4-1	5-0	5-3
CLE	1-9	115	263	0-4	1-5	0-4	1-5
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Cincinnati Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Palmer 61.5 2217 14 8

Cleveland Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Quinn 56.7 812 5 5 Anders... 42.9 681 2 9

Cincinnati Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Benson 205 859 4.2 6 Scott 50 214 4.3 0

Cleveland Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Lewis 132 460 3.5 0 Harris... 69 254 3.7 0

Cincinnati Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Ochoci... 50 735 14.7 5 Coles 29 355 12.2 3

Cleveland Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Massaq... 25 473 18.9 1 Furrey 22 161 7.3 0

Full Player Stats: Cincinnati | Cleveland

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	CIN	336.0
	CLE	237.0
Yards Passing	CIN	207.8
	CLE	135.4
Yards Rushing	CIN	127.8
	CLE	101.4
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	CIN	310.5
	CLE	402.0
Pass Yds Allowed	CIN	226.2
	CLE	247.1
Rush Yds Allowed	CIN	84.3
	CLE	154.9

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Cincinnati leads 10-7
Dec 21, 2008	CIN 14, CLE 0
Sep 28, 2008	CIN 12, @CLE 20
Dec 23, 2007	CIN 19, @CLE 14
Sep 16, 2007	CIN 45, CLE 51
Nov 26, 2006	CIN 30, CLE 0
Sep 17, 2006	CIN 34, @CLE 17
Dec 11, 2005	CIN 23, @CLE 20
Sep 11, 2005	CIN 27, CLE 13
Nov 28, 2004	CIN 58, @CLE 48
Oct 17, 2004	CIN 17, CLE 34
Dec 28, 2003	CIN 14, @CLE 22
Sep 28, 2003	CIN 21, CLE 14
Nov 17, 2002	CIN 20, @CLE 27
Sep 15, 2002	CIN 7, CLE 20
Nov 25, 2001	CIN 0, CLE 18
Oct 14, 2001	CIN 24, @CLE 14

Notes, Stats, and Trends

Derek Anderson, named the Browns starting quarterback for Sunday vs the Bengals, has the worst passer rating since the start of last season among NFL quarterbacks with 150 pass attempts (62.6 rating). The Browns' other option at QB, Brady Quinn, has the third-worst rating in that span (64.9). ESPN Stats and Information

An upset of the reigning Super Bowl champion has the Cincinnati Bengals brimming with confidence. Having Carson Palmer healthy is certainly a big part of that, and facing the lowly Cleveland Browns may only help.

The Bengals will try to continue their surprising start Sunday when they visit the Browns, who are hoping to avoid their longest losing streak in nearly 34 years.

Palmer engineered a 16-play, 71-yard drive that culminated with an improvised 4-yard touchdown pass to Andre Caldwell with 14 seconds left, giving the Bengals (2-1) a 23-20 win over Pittsburgh last Sunday. The victory snapped a seven-game home losing streak to the Steelers and gave Cincinnati more wins than it had through 13 games last season.

"It's a confidence booster," Caldwell said. "We're letting the world know that we feel we're a competitive team and we're something to be reckoned with."

The Bengals have seen two of their three games decided in the final minute. In a season-opening 12-7 loss to Denver, Palmer led them on a 91-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard TD run by Cedric Benson with 38 seconds left, only to have a fluke tipped pass result in an 87-yard touchdown for the Broncos 27 seconds later.

Cincinnati followed that a week later with a surprise 31-24 win at Green Bay before Palmer rallied the team to two fourth-quarter TDs to upset the Steelers.

"I think it starts with the quarterback," coach Marvin Lewis said. "There's a calmness that he has in those situations. He has command of the things that he likes, when it's up to him to make the calls."

Palmer threw two interceptions in each of the first two weeks but had none against Pittsburgh, possibly growing more comfortable after missing the final 11 games last season with an injured elbow. Cincinnati would finish 4-11-1 for its worst record since drafting him first overall out of Southern California in 2003.

Caldwell's emergence has benefited Palmer, as he's replaced T.J. Houshmandzadeh in the slot, where he's expected to make catches over the middle. The 2008 third-round pick from Florida is tied with Chad Ochocinco with a team-leading 14 catches.

Caldwell, who had a team-high six catches against the Steelers with three on the winning drive, has 122 receiving yards, while Ochocinco leads the Bengals with 234.

Palmer thinks opponents are starting to take notice of Caldwell, potentially freeing Ochocinco from double coverage.

"Hopefully that will open Chad up a little more because teams will start to fear Andre," Palmer said.

Cincinnati split two meetings with the Browns (0-3) last season with each team winning on the road. The Bengals won 14-0 at Cleveland on Dec. 21, as the Browns offense mustered only 182 yards with 41 coming through the air.

Cleveland hasn't shown much improvement since then, ranking last in total offense this year with an average of 218.0 yards. The Browns now look to avoid losing 10 consecutive games for the first time since a franchise-record 11-game slide from Dec. 7, 1974-Nov. 16, 1975.

The Browns have been outscored 224-60 during their current slide, which continued with a 34-3 loss at Baltimore last week.

To jolt an offense that has managed one touchdown in the last nine games, coach Eric Mangini has named Derek Anderson the starting quarterback against the Bengals after benching Brady Quinn at halftime last week.

Anderson completed 11 of 19 passes for 92 yards with three interceptions against the Ravens. Quinn is 45 for 74 for 400 yards with one TD and three picks in three games after winning the starting job following the preseason. His passer rating of 62.9 ranks 29th among the league's 32 starting quarterbacks.

"I'm not saying it's all Brady," Mangini said. "Derek did some things that were positive and that's what it's based on. There's nobody happy with where we are right now. That's across the board."

While offense has been a major problem, Cleveland hasn't been much better defensively, ranking 29th (412.7 ypg).

"We're frustrated, too," linebacker David Bowens said. "But we have 53 men on this roster that are men and willing to stand up and be accountable and correct things. It's three games. People say it's the end of the world, but to us it's not."

Lions' Stafford, Johnson likely out vs. Packers

Lions quarterback Matt Stafford had a record-setting day in Sunday's 38-37 victory over the Cleveland Browns.

Mangini questions timing of many Lions injuries

Browns coach Eric Mangini is questioning whether the Detroit Lions faked injuries to slow down Cleveland's no-huddle offense.

FBO: Week 11 Quick Reads

Football Outsiders apply their metrics to Week 11. Findings: Even when Wes Welker doesn't find the end zone, he's historic; Mark Sanchez isn't ready; DeAngelo Williams needs the rock more; and T.J. Houshmandzadeh may have saved Minny's season.

Bengals' fumble hands Raiders last-second win

Bruce Gradkowski threw a 29-yard tying touchdown pass to Louis Murphy with 33 seconds left and Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 33-yard field goal after Andre Caldwell fumbled the ensuing kickoff, giving the Raiders a 20-17 victory Sunday.

Chad Ochocinco: I will be at Bengals minicamp

Besides warmer weather, what is another sure sign that Bengals minicamp is drawing closer? Talk about a wide receiver not at the team?s OTAs starts to dominate the conversation.

Palmer: We still need Chad

Carson Palmer has always been about loyalty, which is why during the past two weeks he has talked about the progress of the receivers who are participating in the Bengals offseason program.

Bengals' Hall pleads guilty to reduced charge in DUI case

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Leon Hall pleaded guilty to a reduced charge in his drunken-driving case Monday, allowing him to avoid jail time.

Odom: I know I have to play better

You would expect when someone adds 28 pounds, that it would slow a player. Not in the case of Antwan Odom.

Bengals counting heavily on Henry

This time last year, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry was entering a dark period of his NFL career.

Browns Insider: Mangini sees errors, but also progress, as Quinn, Anderson learn new offense

Browns coach Eric Mangini explained Tuesday why the quarterbacks have looked a little ragged this week and last week during voluntary practices.

Witnesses for the defense: Ex-Jets spreading the word to help Browns learn Mangini's ways

The Browns haven't made a tackle yet this year, of course -- or missed one -- but certain characteristics of their defense are emerging in their off-season workouts.

Dumb move by Mangenius

By essentially forcing the rookies to take a 10-hour bus trip to work a camp at his old high school in Connecticut this weekend, head coach Eric Mangini only succeeded in adding to the Browns' reputation as an NFL laughingstock.

How to Lose Friends and Irritate People, Eric Mangini Edition

It's not going to matter if Eric Mangini goes 11-5 with the Browns and Rex Ryan goes 5-11 with the Jets, but .. In a comparison of the two in the off-season, Ryan seems to be winning, 62-0. Most of it is Mangini's own doing.

Mangini Not Making Friends In Cleveland

Eric Mangini irked Browns rookies by "asking" that they help out at a football camp in Hartford, Conn.