The Browns (0-3) have scored 66 less points than they’ve allowed entering their 1 p.m. matchup with the visiting Bengals (2-1), but this is more than a common regular season game. This is the Battle of Ohio. In case you’re not familiar with the running conflict::
1 p.m. Bye Week Mayhem: Bengals, Browns Square Up For Battle of Ohio
In the National Football League, the Battle of Ohio (also known as the Buckeye State Series) refers to games played between the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals. This rivalry has produced 2 of the 8 highest scoring games in NFL history. With their December 21, 2008 win in Cleveland, the Bengals took the lead in the all-time series, 36-35.
SB Nation’s Bengals blog, Cincy Jungle, is confident of a win but terms a loss as unacceptable:
If the Bengals fail to win this game, then Cincinnati is back to square one. After three weeks of saying “if not for the fluke play, we’d be undefeated”, the Bengals would have lost to the team that many observers call the worst NFL team this year. If the Bengals win, and do it barely, then questions will rise again about the legitimacy of the team’s chances. In other words, if they barely beat the Browns, how can they compete against the conference best? I believe that the Bengals will win by at least two touchdowns. I think our defense is strong enough to keep the Browns from breaking out and I believe that our offense light the world afire.
This is the first bye week of the season. Four teams have a Week 4 bye, but 26 teams do not! Eight games kick off at 1 p.m. Sunday. Make sure you check out our game threads for live (and lively) discussion of each game.
Bengals at Browns
(Game threads at Cincy Jungle and Dawgs By Nature)
Ravens at Patriots
(Game threads at Baltimore Beatdown and Pats Pulpit)
Lions at Bears
(Game threads at Windy City Gridiron and Pride of Detroit)
Seahawks at Colts
(Game threads at Stampede Blue and Field Gulls)
Giants at Chiefs
(Game threads at Big Blue View and Arrowhead Pride)
Buccaneers at Redskins
(Game threads at Buc 'Em and Hogs Haven)
Titans at Jaguars
(Game threads at Music City Miracles and Big Cat Country)
Raiders at Texans
(Game threads at Battle Red Blog and Silver and Black Pride)
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