Can the Cincinnati Bengals make it two wins on the season, ending Zac Taylor’s debut on a positive note?
All that stands between the Bengals and doing so is a six-win Cleveland Browns team having a tough time of its own.
But the Bengals couldn’t make it happen back in Week 14, where Cleveland picked up a 27-19 win while Andy Dalton’s one interception went back for a decisive touchdown.
That mistake dashed a 146-yard performance with a score from Joe Mixon (6.3 average) and likewise spoiled a solid defensive effort that held Baker Mayfield without a touchdown alongside his two picks.
The good news? The forecast calls for rain, this one is at home and nothing seems capable of slowing Mixon. He’s now 25 yards away from 1,000 and has averaged well over five yards per carry in two of his last three showings.
Cleveland’s offense could have problems keeping pace. Mayfield has regressed this year (19 touchdowns, 18 interceptions) and some of his top targets like Odell Beckham Jr. aren’t at full strength. The biggest counter available to the Browns is Nick Chubb, who is quietly one of the best backs in the league with 1,453 yards and eight scores, and he averaged more than seven yards per carry against the Bengals last time out.
There isn’t a ton that seperates these two and these meaningless late-season games always get hard to predict. But one thing we can say — these Bengals players haven’t stopped fighting for Zac Taylor. While the Browns feel like a team headed for massive change again after a disappointing season, the Bengals have the vibe of a team wanting to go out with a bang, which is enough to swing this year-ending prediction.
Prediction: Bengals 27, Browns 20
