Browns at Bengals -- Week 2
Where: Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati (turf, outdoors)
When: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
Spread: Bengals by 10
Forecast: 80 degrees, mostly sunny
Records: Browns (0-1 overall, AFC North: 0-0); Bengals (0-1 overall, AFC North: 0-1)
Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Nov. 27, 2011: Bengals 23, Browns 20; Sept. 11, 2011: Bengals 27, Browns 17. Series record: Bengals lead, 41-36.
What matters: The Browns have not won an AFC North game since upsetting the Steelers in bitter cold Cleveland late in the 2010 season. They are coming off yet another gut-wrenching defeat in a season opener. The Eagles handed them a victory on a silver platter they refused to take. The loss was followed by the news that CB Joe Haden was suspended for four games for violating the NFL drug policy. It is a significant blow considering he would have been responsible for covering Bengals fleet and athletic receiver A.J. Green. The struggles of the Cincinnati secondary in Baltimore indicate that the Browns passing offense could match that of the Bengals on Sunday. But the Browns offense was out of whack in virtually every area against Philadelphia and needs to come together to produce an upset.
Who matters: The loss of Haden weakens an already young secondary with little depth. Green will now be the responsibility of Dimitri Patterson and Buster Skrine. The inevitable double-teaming of Green will result is less attention for emerging threats such as WR Andrew Hawkins and TE Jermaine Gresham. One encouraging note for the Browns was that their pass rush chased Eagles QB Michael Vick all over the field in Week 1 and could prove even more effective against less mobile Cincinnati counterpart Andy Dalton, who struggled in the opener at Baltimore. Considering the loss of Haden, the pass rush will be a critical element in keeping Green and the Bengals from scoring too many points for a struggling Browns offense to match. If Browns rookie QB Brandon Weeden performs at the same disturbing level as he did against the Eagles, they are doomed to be 0-2. RB Trent Richardson has had one more week to recover from his preseason knee scope and should show more of the burst seen early in training camp. But the run blocking, which opened up holes consistently in the preseason before laying an egg against Philadelphia, must give Richardson room to roam.
Key matchups: The Browns are hopeful that a young linebacker such as L.J. Fort or Craig Robertson can handle Gresham, thereby freeing up a safety to help against Green. It is unlikely that OLBs Kaluka Maiava or Scott Fujita boast the speed or athleticism to hang with a rangy, talented TE such as Gresham. The most anticipated clash on the other side of the ball is between Richardson and Bengals MLB Rey Maualuga, who told the media he was unimpressed with what he saw from the rookie featured back on film. Of course, it won’t matter if Green dominates Patterson and Skrine because the Browns will be forced to pass in catch-up mode.
Injuries of note: Aside from DT Phil Taylor (pectoral surgery), who will remain out for at least five more games the Browns are pretty healthy. Rookie LB James-<player idref= (oblique) was considered a starter heading into the regular season and has yet to practice. Look for him to return in the next week or two.
Inside stuff: The pressure always is on the head coach, but the impending ownership change is putting a little more on Browns coach Pat Shurmur. Owner-to-be Jimmy Haslam planted himself in the back row during Shurmur’s press conference following the loss to Philadelphia. With former Eagles president Joe Banner part of the ownership group and a nearly sure bet to take over the same position in Cleveland, current president Mike Holmgren could be on the way out as well. Even the job of GM Tom Heckert could be on the line if first-round draft picks Richardson and Weeden don’t perform well immediately.
Connections: Browns DE Frostee Rucker was a key member of the Bengals defensive line until signing a free agent contract this offseason. He has emerged as a locker room leader and was selected as a captain for this game. Rucker is well aware of the tendencies of the Cincinnati offense and the lack of mobility of QB Andy Dalton. That could prove helpful to the defense on Sunday.
Stat you should know: Weeden enters the game with a QB rating of 5.1 … Richardson averaged 2.1 yards per carry against Philadelphia, but was making his NFL debut coming off arthroscopic knee surgery. … The Bengals have won 12 of the past 15 meetings between the two teams. ... The Browns have lost five of their last six opening road games. The exception was last year in Indianapolis. … The Browns defense recorded five turnovers against the Eagles after managing just 20 all of last season.
Bulletin board quote: “He can run you over and you can miss a tackle, at the same time, from what we've seen he didn't do anything spectacular. From running screens, missing passes, trying to find a hole when he's running the ball. He just didn't do anything spectacular from what I've seen.” -- Bengals MLB Rey Maualuga on the NFL debut last week of Browns rookie RB Trent Richardson.
Looking ahead: The Browns must take advantage of winnable games at Cincinnati and home against Buffalo because they are followed by games at the New York Giants and Baltimore. If they cannot win either of the next two, the prospect of an 0-5 start becomes very real. And with new owner Jimmy Haslam most certainly to be approved by the NFL on October 16, nobody is going to feel very safe.
Prediction: Bengals 23, Browns 20
Stay dialed in on the Cleveland Browns Twitter @CBSBrowns throughout the season with on-site updates from CBSSports.com RapidReports correspondent Marty Gitlin.
