Field Level Media
08 Dec 2022, 05:10 GMT+10
Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burrow has defeated the powerhouse Kansas City Chiefs three times over the past 11-plus months, but a different win-loss mark hangs over him this week.
Burrow is 0-4 against Cleveland and the quarterback who defeated Patrick Mahomes again last weekend will try to change that ugly factoid when the Bengals host the Browns on Sunday.
"We haven't executed up to our ability, so we're gonna have to execute the game plan to the best of our ability and move the ball, put points on the board and keep their offense off the field," Burrow said during Wednesday's press conference on how to end the skid against Cleveland.
Overall, the Bengals (8-4) have lost five straight and eight of the past nine to the Browns (5-7).
On Halloween, it was a one-sided win for host Cleveland. Jacoby Brissett was 17-of-22 passing for 278 yards and one touchdown and Nick Chubb rushed for 101 yards and two scores as the Browns rolled to a 32-13 victory and outgained Cincinnati 440-229.
Burrow completed 25 of 35 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns. But he was sacked five times and also threw an interception. He has been sacked just five times in Cincinnati's four games since losing to the Browns.
The quarterback who guided the Bengals to last season's Super Bowl before losing to the Los Angeles Rams will see a new face this Sunday. It marks the first time he has matched up against Deshaun Watson.
Watson will be making his second start for the Browns after serving an 11-game suspension from the NFL due to alleged sexual misconduct involving more than two dozen massage therapists.
He was just 12 of 22 for 131 yards with a career-low 53.4 passer rating in last Sunday's 27-14 win over the Houston Texans. Cleveland didn't score an offensive touchdown during an outing in which Watson was clearly rusty.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said there is no way of knowing how long it will take for Watson to find his form.
"I don't know if I can put a timeframe on it," Stefanski said Wednesday. "He's working very hard. He's locked in on the game plan, working hard out at practice. There were things that come up in your first game back that you just have to correct."
Cleveland tight end David Njoku, who is hopeful of returning from a one-game absence due to knee injury, is eager to see Watson firsthand.
"He's progressing every day," said Njoku, who was limited in practice on Wednesday. "That's all we really ask for him is to progress every day. We're all excited for his progression."
The game against the Texans -- his former club -- was the first in 700 days for Watson. The three-time Pro Bowler passed for an NFL-high 4,823 yards with 33 touchdowns and just seven interceptions in 2020, his final season with Houston.
Bengals defensive tackle D.J. Reader played three seasons (2017-19) with Watson and hopes there isn't a quick turnaround.
"Hopefully a couple more weeks," Reader said of Watson hitting his stride. "I'm always cheering for him. That's my brother. I went through a lot of battles with that guy, I know where he comes from, I know the cloth he's cut from, I just want to see him do well, but we are going to get after him on Sunday."
The Bengals have won four straight games and eight of their past 10 games after an 0-2 start. The Browns have won their past two games and are trying to make a late push for a playoff spot.
Cleveland placed linebacker Sione Takitaki (ACL) and receiver Anthony Schwartz (concussion) on injured reserve on Wednesday.
Three active Browns missed Wednesday's practice due to injuries -- cornerbacks Denzel Ward (ankle, illness) and A.J. Green (knee) and offensive tackle James Hudson (illness).
Bengals tight end Hayden Hurst (calf) has been deemed doubtful to play by coach Zac Taylor. Hurst was injured during the 27-24 win over Kansas City. Running back Joe Mixon (concussion) was a full participant after missing the past two games.
--Field Level MediaGet a daily dose of Austin Globe news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Austin Globe.
More InformationNEW YORK, New YorK - U.S. stocks closed mixed on Friday, with gains and losses modest, as investors and traders weighed up the escalation...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Retail sales dropped sharply in May as consumer spending slowed after a strong start to the year, primarily due to...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Mitsubishi Motors is the latest automaker to raise prices in the United States, joining a growing list of car companies...
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana: Eli Lilly is making a bold play in cardiovascular gene therapy, announcing plans to acquire its partner Verve...
BEIJING/WELLINGTON: New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon commenced his visit to China on June 17, seeking to strengthen trade...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks made only minor moves in both directions,Thursday, as investors fretted about the Israel-Iran conflict...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: The Trump family has unveiled a new venture in the telecom sector — and it's drawing as much scrutiny as it...
HOUSTON, Texas: Crude oil surged to multi-month highs this week, driven by escalating tensions in the Middle East after Israel launched...
Austin [Texas], June 20 (ANI): The Elon Musk-headed SpaceX's newest Starship exploded ahead of a routine engine test in Texas, leading...
New York [US], June 19 (ANI): Anupam Kher directorial 'Tanvi The Great' got featured at the iconic Times Square in New York on Thursday....
Brussels had planned to lower the cap on Russian crude from $60 to $45 per barrel in the latest package of sanctions The EU has stepped...
Oakland [US], June 18 (ANI): A vintage Glenn Maxwell smashed a 49-ball ton as he unleashed his wrath at the Los Angeles Knight Riders...