Bengals ho-hum about chance to clinch early playoff berth

The Browns took on the Ravens on Monday night and lost in one of the “Brown-iest” ways anyone could ever imagine. The second I saw Travis Coons’ blocked kick rest in Raven defender Will Hill’s hands, I felt certain he would score.

“When you’re the (2-9) team, you always wake up for the big games”, Bengals cornerback said. Geez, these guys can’t catch a break.

Brandon Tate (19) of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Johnny Manziel started that game for Cleveland, throwing for 168 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. Anderson had five touchdown passes and Palmer had six, but Palmer’s 50 pass was intercepted by Leigh Bodden at the Browns’ 27-yard line with 21 seconds to go. And, you bring up a great point, despite making the playoffs in each of his first four seasons, Andy Dalton has only swept the Browns once – his rookie season.

CIN: 4 in scoring, 7 in offense (9 rushing, T-12 passing); 1 in scoring defense, 15 in defense (13 rushing, 17 passing), T-4th in turnover margin at plus-six. When they don’t they are only winning games by 4 points or less.

File this under “W” for “Worth a shot:” Terrelle Pryor is back in town.

PRYOR COMMITMENT: The Browns signed former Oakland quarterback Terrelle Pryor this week, more than three months after cutting the wide receiver at the end of training camp. General manager Ray Farmer added Pryor to the 53-man roster after the last preseason game, but proceeded to cut him a few days later.

Austin Davis will make his first start for the Browns today in place of injured starter Josh McCown.

” With a win Sunday, Dalton secures his 50 victory as a starter. “I’m pretty excited”, Danneman says.

For Cleveland, their starting quarterback position is once again the center of attention. The intrastate rivals have split each of the past three years. Offensive coordinator John DeFilippo believes Davis is up for the task. “We are excited he is going to be playing for us this week”.

Cincinnati’s remaining schedule is not hard, save for a game against the Denver Broncos in Week 16.

Mack’s loyalty to the Browns’ organization makes him one of Cleveland’s most cherished commodities at the moment.

Series history: Bengals lead, 45-39.

The set-up: The Browns have locked up an eighth consecutive losing season. Years of success followed, but when the club began to struggle, owner Art Modell fired him in 1963.

The Bengals and Browns are worlds apart. The Bengals are averaging the fourth most points per game in the National Football League and they should look to bolster that stat in Cleveland. However, wins represent a precious commodity in Cleveland and the natural fan instinct is to want a win. With four straight first round exits and 25 years since they last won a playoff game, there isn’t a monkey they have to get off their back, it is an 800 pound gorilla.

The Bengals, who have been relatively healthy and drama free, may be without one of their key players Sunday.