NFL 2010 Week 15 - Preview: Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals
The season has continued to go downhill for the Cincinnati Bengals since their cornerback fell short against the Cleveland Browns in early October. It also shows that their frustration is
increasing.
The Bengals fell behind 23-10 in the third quarter at Cleveland on 3 October, after winning two of their first three play-offs this season. They scored 10 points over the next five and a
half minutes, but could not get any closer in a 23-20 defeat.
Since then, the Bengals have lost nine more games, matching a 0-10 start in 1993 for the longest 10-game losing streak in the National Football League (NFL) this season, and the second longest
in franchise history.
"Ten straight. That's it, that's where this team is right now, 10 straight," linebacker Brandon Johnson said. "We've got a lot of problems. We need a lot of answers."
Having voiced his annoyance with the club, wide receiver Terrell Owens was defended by Cincinnati’s coach Marvin Lewis. Owens had 10 receptions for a season-high 222 yards in the October
loss to Browns. He has not had more than six catches, or 64 yards in his last five games, but he needs only 17 yards to become the third NFL player to reach 1,000 in 10 different seasons.
Owens will struggle to help Cincinnati avoid another loss on Sunday, when Cleveland seeks to sweep their in-state opponent for the first time in eight years.
Following six consecutive losses by eight points or less, three of the Bengals’ last four defeats have been by at least 16 points. Cincinnati totalled 190 yards of offence (including a season-low
34 on the ground) in last week's 23-7 defeat at Pittsburgh.
The Bengals have averaged 58.7 rushing yards over the last three weeks. They had 67 in the loss to Browns. Carson Palmer passed for 371 yards and two touchdowns in that game, but has not
exceeded 249 yards in his last four games.
While the Bengals’ ground game is at a virtual standstill, the Browns are thriving behind Peyton Hillis, who has 994 yards and nine touch down's (TDs) in the last 11 games. He ran for 102
yards and scored a touchdown against the Bengals, and completed 108 yards last week against Buffalo Bills.
However, Hillis could not find the end zone in a 13-6 loss to the Buffalo's (the second of three straight road games for Browns). Jake Delhomme had a poor performance at quarterback. He threw
for 86 yards, as the Cleveland offence totalled a season-worst 187 yards.
Delhomme might find himself on the bench this week as Colt McCoy will return as starting quarterback for the rest of season. Rookie
Colt McCoy had taken over the starting job, but was sidelined after spraining his ankle on 21 November in Jacksonville. Coach Eric Mangini said he will like to see if his rookie's injured
ankle is completely cured before this week's starter is decided.
"I don't expect there to be much limitation, but I want to see it and go from there," Mangini said.
McCoy led Cleveland to their most remarkable stretch of 2010; straight mid-season victories over the New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots. If he starts on Sunday, he will try to lead
Cleveland to only their second win in seven games at the Paul Brown Stadium. The Browns lost 16-7 at Cincinnati last season. While the Bengals have won nine of 12 overall against the
Cleveland.
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