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Come Fan with UsSunday, June 21, 2026

Bengals vs. Browns 2015 picks and predictions: Cincinnati is the unanimous pick

Maybe a different quarterback will help the Browns?

The Cincinnati Bengals are hitting the road to take on the Cleveland Browns in the second "Battle for Ohio" this season. Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis will be facing his 15th different starting quarterback in what will be his 26th meeting with the Browns.

The quarterback carousel is still spinning in Cleveland with head coach Mike Pettine announcing earlier in the week that Austin Davis earned the starting role, for at least this week, after his performance when Josh McCown went down Monday against the Ravens. Davis almost rallied the team back for a win, but the Browns fell at the last minute when the Ravens scored in absurd fashion. Davis still completed 7 of 10 passes for 77 yards and a touchdown, and he didn't throw an interception.

Johnny Manziel will move up to No. 2 on the depth chart following his benching for yet another wild weekend of partying, but Pettine hasn't ruled him out of taking the field again this season. Manziel started three games this year, with his best performance coming just before his bye-week benching, when he threw for 372 yards and a touchdown with a 73.3 completion percentage. This week, Cleveland picked up wideout Terrelle Pryor, who will also serve as an emergency No. 3 quarterback.

Cincinnati, on the other hand, has never been more confident in quarterback Andy Dalton. Despite missing the chance for an undefeated season with losses to the Texans and Cardinals, Dalton was able to do what the team usually struggles with: come back and get another win. The Bengals scored 31 points last Sunday against the Rams and regained their momentum heading into the last stretch of the season.

The Bengals lead the AFC North and if they should have no problem walking away as the division champion. The Steelers are a distant second at 6-5 on the season, well above the Browns, who are in last at 2-9. With Cincinnati expected to win Sunday, both teams should get one step closer to their goals -- the Bengals to a successful postseason run, and the Browns to a high first-round draft pick.

The experts at CBS and ESPN all agree that the Bengals will improve to 10-2 on the season. Here at SB Nation, things look the same, with the experts having no faith in the Browns coming away with their third win of the season.

Ryan Van Bibber Stephen White Joel Thorman David Fucillo Danny Kelly Matt Ufford PFT Commenter OddsShark
CIN vs CLE CIN CIN CIN CIN CIN CIN CIN CIN
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