Position by Position Breakdown: Bengals v Browns

Quarterback:

Hoyer did much better than expected last week (321 yards and 3 TDs) and should be given credit. However, lets’ not get carried away. He was going up against the 29^th ranked defense (28^th against the pass) and he did have 3 INTs, a 55.6% completion and a 68.3 rating. Hoyer and his 150 career passes (54 last week) will be facing a much better defense this week. Dalton on the other hand is a grisly veteran compared to Hoyer. Dalton has been under intense scrutiny from Bengals fans, and while he has had some head scratching and frustrating moments, overall, he is having a very solid season. 67% completion, 5 TDs, 3 INTs, 93.2 rating and nearly 260 ypg. What Dalton needs to work on is his starts. In all 3 games, Dalton has gotten off to a poor start. It won’t get easier in week 4 against a very good Browns defense (6^th). Dalton has a clear advantage here.

	Bengals	Browns
QB	ü
OL	ü
RB	ü
WR	ü
TE	ü
DL	ü
LB		ü
CB		ü
S	ü
K	ü
Coach	ü
Overall	ü

Advantage: Bengals

 

Offensive Line:

Coming into the season, I believed the Browns had arguably the best OL in the division and one of the better OL in the NFL (and I think most Browns fans would agree). After 3 games, I am wrong. The Browns have surrendered 14 sacks in just 3 games and spurred a running attack so bad, the term “non-existent” would be a compliment. The Bengals DL should be able to disrupt the passing and “running game” of the Browns. The Bengals OL will have a tough task in keeping the Browns defense (12.0 sacks) off Dalton, however, they have faced 3 good pass rushing teams and have yielded only 5 sacks so far (though 4 did come last week). The Bengals OL will have their hands full with this Browns defense, but they are good enough to do so. The Browns on the other hand may not be capable of keeping the Bengals DL off Hoyer.

Advantage: Bengals

 

Running Backs:

This one is not even close…comical in fact. While BJGE has not had a great start, he and Bernard combine for a potent 1-2 punch. The Browns traded away their top RB (and best player) just last week and their leading rusher (Josh Aubrey) has 1 whole carry and 34 yards. They did pick up McGahee, and while I would expect him to be better with a full week of practice, McGahee is almost 32 and carried 8 times for just 9 yards (1.1 ypc) against the 21^st ranked run defense.  The Browns top 5 rushers have 16 carries and 0 TDs…combined, and 2 of those rushers (and 53% of the yards) are not even RBs (DB and WR). The Browns active RBs have 14 combined rushes for 49 yards compared to the Bengals 68 rushes, 239 yards and 4 TDs.

Advantage: Bengals

 

Wide Receivers:

With Gordon making a spectacular return (10 catches for 146 yards and 1 TD), the Browns certainly have a formidable trio of WRs (Gordon, Little and Bess) that can cause problems for any secondary, especially an injury depleted secondary like that of the Bengals. However, the Bengals clearly have the best WR on the field (Green) and with Green, Sanu and Jones, the Bengals still have the best trio as well.

Advantage: Bengals

 

Tight Ends:

Jordan Cameron is having one hell of a year (20 catches, 269 yards and 4 TDs) and may be the best TE on the field Sunday. However, the Bengals have and elite TE as well…in fact they have 2 elite TEs (Gresham and Eifert) whom they often use at the same time. While Cameron may be the best single TE on the field, and covering an elite TE is difficult, it is easier to cover 1 elite TE than it is to cover 2. Therefore, the Bengals have the edge at TE.

Advantage: Bengals

 

Defensive Line:

While the Browns have a good DL wit Bryant and Taylor, the Browns play the 3-4 and their strength is in the LB position. The Bengals on the other hand have what is arguably the best DL in the NFL with Atkins, Dunlap, MJ and Peko. The Browns porous OL will have issues keeping this DL off Hoyer and if the Browns are forced to keep Cameron in to block, that could really hurt the Browns and help the Bengals.

Advantage: Bengals

 

Line Backers:

While I believe the best LB on the field will be dawning stripes (Burfict), the Browns play 4 LBs, 3 of which (Kruger, Jackson and Mingo) have difference making ability. 3 difference making LBs to the Bengals 1 gives the Browns the edge at the LB position.

Advantage: Browns

 

Cornerbacks:

The Bengals have the better group of CBs with Newman, Hall, Jones and Kirkpatrick, however, all 4 are dealing with injuries and 1 or 2 may not even play (Hall and Kirkpatrick). The Browns clearly have the best CB overall with Hayden and with his success against Green, combined with the injury issues of the Bengals, the Browns have the CB advantage as well.

Advantage: Browns

 

Safeties:

Rarely do the Bengals have an advantage at safety, but this makes two weeks in a row. Reggie Nelson is a very good safety, Iloka is playing well, and the signing of Crocker gives them depth. However, this is not a group that gives the Bengals any difference making advantage. TJ Ward is a serviceable safety that has played well in the past against the Bengals, but not well enough to give the Browns an advantage.

Advantage: Bengals

 

Kicker:

It will be weird to see Billy Cundiff trot out onto the field Sunday rather than Phil Dawson, the Browns staple at kicker for seemingly forever. That is good news for the Bengals as Cundiff is not nearly the kicker Dawson is. Mike Nugent is a solid, not great kicker but has a career kicking percentage nearly 5 points better than Billy Cundiff (80.9 to 76.1).

Advantage: Bengals

 

Coach:

In my recap last week, I forgot to give Marvin credit for finally having a great challenge which lead to the game turning fumble returned for a TD. Now you will see another rarity….me giving Marvin the edge in coaching! Not really because of anything Marvin has done, but more so because what Chudzinski has not done – he has only 3 games of HC experience and I was not impressed with what he did in Carolina as the OC…plus, I can’t give a guy with the name “Chud” the advantage in anything really.

Advantage: Bengals