Both of these AFC North teams are looking to rebound after 0-1 starts. Aside from being in the same black-and-blue division, these squads also both have young signal-callers in Andy Dalton (sophomore) and Brandon Weeden (rookie), play in Ohio, have a few excellent players on defense, and both still had a shot to win last week at halftime.
Those similarities aside, the end of those losing efforts couldn’t have been more different – the Browns had their hearts ripped out by Michael Vick one play after they dropped what would have been a game-ending (and winning) interception. The Bengal’s game against Baltimore was over by the fourth quarter in what became a rout. The Bengals entered the season with higher expectations, after having earned a playoff spot last season, and will clearly enter this game desperate to set their season back on track and avoid the dreaded 0-2 start that brings with it all sorts of statistics about teams not making the playoffs.
Which team will redeem themselves this week? Let’s take a look at some factors that will determine the outcome of this game.
Brandon Weeden vs. Andy Dalton
Both quarterbacks had serious struggles last weekend, and that's putting it mildly. Weeden is a rookie, but not completing a single pass of more than 10 yards is embarrassing, as are the multiple turnovers (four picks, two fumbles) he committed. In what turned out to be a close, hard-fought contest, better ball security could easily have proven the difference between the heartbreaking defeat and the most unexpected victory of Week 1. Dalton wasn’t quite as bad, but he still helped his team lose. When the dust settled he had completed only four passes of over 10 yards out of his 22 completions, while he also threw a pick-six at the end of the third quarter and fumbled the ball away. These two combined for a horrific -12.1 PFF passing grade; surely they can only get better, right?
Browns Wide Receivers/TEs vs. Bengals Secondary
In order for Weeden to improve, his weapons will need to help out more than last week, especially Greg Little who turned a pass into an interception with a drop around the goal line. Little was shut out on four targets and last season dropped 14 catchable passes–only Roddy White dropped more among wide receivers in 2011. The rest of the receiving corps and tight ends, including former Patriot Ben Watson, combined for just 93 yards against the Eagles. Meanwhile, the Bengal’s secondary was burned by Joe Flacco for over 300 yards and no interceptions, so there could be opportunities for the Browns' passing game to make some improvements this week. Seeing Flacco’s stat line, no one would judge you if you thought most of that damage was done on former Cowboy human target Terence Newman. One would be mistaken, however, as the biggest culprit was former Pro Bowler Leon Hall (-1.7 coverage grade). Hall got beat for a 52 yard pass early on, and it wouldn’t get any better, as he was also responsible for a TD catch by TE Dennis Pitta. Will the Bengal’s secondary continue to struggle, or will they make amends immediately and put the Browns’ receiving corps to the sword?
Just Who Is Going to Cover AJ Green?
In his rookie year, AJ Green saw a lot of Browns top CB Joe Haden. Green still managed to beat Haden for 151 yards on four catches and a TD in those two games last season. With Haden set to start his suspension this week, thereby removing himself from Green’s side, the second-year receiver could be in for a big day. With the coaching staff willing to move him all over the field, as evidenced last week, who will be charged with shutting down the former fourth-overall pick? Most likely it will be some combination of veterans Sheldon Brown (+0.3 coverage last week), Dimitri Patterson (+0.1) and second-year man Buster Skrine who, despite earning a +3.2 in pass coverage, still gave up 71 yards. Whether one or all of these guys can force someone besides Green to beat them will be one of the defining factors in this game.
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