The Cleveland Browns are tied for 1st place in the AFC North, and are off to their best 9-game start since 1994. All of this after a dominant showing Thursday night, in a 24-3 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The Browns are 6-3 and tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers at the top of the division. They also snapped the streak of 17 straight losses against division opponents on the road. Their last division win on the road was also against the Bengals, on September 28, 2008.
The Bengals fell to 5-2-1 on the season, and continued to struggle in prime time. Their only other prime time game was a 43-17 loss on Sunday Night Football against the Patriots. They are now 18-41 under the prime time lights.
One of the biggest reasons for this is Andy Dalton's struggles, as he threw 10/33 for 86 yards and 3 interceptions. The 4th-year quarterback showed signs of frustration from the first possession of the game, which ended in an interception.
It was the first time since 1986 that these 2 teams battled with first place on the line this late in the season. The Browns won that '86 meeting as well, 34-3.
Brian Hoyer did not steal the show for Cleveland, throwing 15/23 for 198 yards and 0 touchdowns. He did not have a turnover, but surprisingly it was the running game that took over for the Browns. Ben Tate, Terrance West, and Isaiah Crowell all ran in for scores. The Browns ran for 170 yards on the night, after totaling just 158 over the previous 3 games combined. West lead the way, rushing for 94 yards on 26 carries.
Billy Cundiff's 32-yard field goal gave the Browns a 17-3 halftime lead. That is the largest halftime lead for Cleveland at Cincinnati since 1994, and they won that game 28-20.
The Bengals look to regroup in the tight AFC North, as they visit the New Orleans Saints on November 16th, following a long week. The 1st-place Browns look to keep rolling when they host the Houston Texans on the 16th.
The Bengals fell to 5-2-1 on the season, and continued to struggle in prime time. Their only other prime time game was a 43-17 loss on Sunday Night Football against the Patriots. They are now 18-41 under the prime time lights.
One of the biggest reasons for this is Andy Dalton's struggles, as he threw 10/33 for 86 yards and 3 interceptions. The 4th-year quarterback showed signs of frustration from the first possession of the game, which ended in an interception.
It was the first time since 1986 that these 2 teams battled with first place on the line this late in the season. The Browns won that '86 meeting as well, 34-3.
Brian Hoyer did not steal the show for Cleveland, throwing 15/23 for 198 yards and 0 touchdowns. He did not have a turnover, but surprisingly it was the running game that took over for the Browns. Ben Tate, Terrance West, and Isaiah Crowell all ran in for scores. The Browns ran for 170 yards on the night, after totaling just 158 over the previous 3 games combined. West lead the way, rushing for 94 yards on 26 carries.
Billy Cundiff's 32-yard field goal gave the Browns a 17-3 halftime lead. That is the largest halftime lead for Cleveland at Cincinnati since 1994, and they won that game 28-20.
The Bengals look to regroup in the tight AFC North, as they visit the New Orleans Saints on November 16th, following a long week. The 1st-place Browns look to keep rolling when they host the Houston Texans on the 16th.
