Cleveland (3-11) will face off against Cincinnati (6-8) on Sunday at 1 p.m. EST on CBS. According to BetMGM, the Bengals are favored by seven points. When it comes to covering the spread this season, the Browns have struggled with a record of 4-10, while the Bengals stand at 8-6. Throughout their history, the Bengals lead the series 54-48. In their last encounter on October 20, the Bengals secured a 21-14 victory over the Browns in Cleveland. Last week, the Chiefs defeated the Browns 21-7, while the Bengals triumphed over the Titans 37-27.

Currently, the Browns’ offense ranks 23rd overall, with a rushing offense at 29th, passing offense at 15th, and scoring offense at 30th. Conversely, the Browns’ defense stands at 18th overall, with the rushing defense at 23rd, passing defense at 11th, and scoring defense at 26th. The Bengals, on the other hand, boast a more robust offense ranked 10th overall, with a 30th place rushing attack, a potent first place in passing, and 25th in scoring. The Bengals’ defense, however, is struggling, sitting at 29th overall, with the rushing defense at 20th, passing defense at 27th, and scoring defense at 31st. When it comes to turnover differentials, the Browns are at -16 while the Bengals are at +2.

The key player for the Browns this week is quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who has been given the start after the team decided to bench Jameis Winston due to his troubling performance, which included eight interceptions in the last three games. Thompson-Robinson will seek to demonstrate his potential after starting three games during his rookie season, which was cut short due to a concussion in Week 12. Meanwhile, the Bengals’ standout is quarterback Joe Burrow. He is enjoying a stellar season, having thrown for 271 yards and three touchdowns last week against the Titans. Heading into Week 16, Burrow leads the NFL in completions, attempts, passing yards, and touchdowns, throwing at least three touchdown passes in each of his six most recent games.

A pivotal matchup to watch will be between Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and Browns cornerback Denzel Ward. Both players are among the elite at their positions. While they may not be matched up on every play, their direct encounters should provide exciting moments. In their previous meeting this season, Chase recorded five catches for 55 yards and a touchdown.

In terms of injuries, several Browns players are uncertain for the game, including tight end David Njoku (hamstring), cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (concussion), and defensive tackle Shelby Harris (elbow), all of whom missed practice this week. Winston is also questionable due to a sore shoulder, and will likely serve as a backup to Thompson-Robinson, while Bailey Zappe is the third-string quarterback. Wide receiver Cedric Tillman, who has missed three games due to a concussion, is also questionable but participated in practice this week. Additionally, running back Nick Chubb will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a broken foot last week.

For the Bengals, defensive end Sam Hubbard is out with a knee injury sustained last week, while guard Alex Cappa remains questionable after being in concussion protocol.

In terms of historical context, the Browns have had recent success in their rivalry with the Bengals, holding a 9-4 record in the last 12 matchups. Before Cincinnati’s win in October, Cleveland had a streak of six straight victories at home against the Bengals and holds a historic advantage, 30-21, in home contests. The Browns have not lost the season series to the Bengals since 2017, following a stretch where Cincinnati had won seven consecutive games and 12 of 15 overall.

Statistically, the Browns faced a rough outing last week, turning the ball over six times, with Winston throwing four interceptions and a fumble. Thompson-Robinson stepped in after Winston’s benching. Over the past two seasons, Thompson-Robinson has recorded only one touchdown against seven interceptions during limited play. Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy has become a key asset for the Browns in recent weeks, tallying a career-high 11 catches for 108 yards last week. Defensive end Myles Garrett, a key figure on defense, was unable to claim a sack against the Chiefs, although he has 99.5 career sacks, with 12 being against the Bengals.

Denzel Ward leads the league with 19 pass defenses and previously returned an interception against Cincinnati for a touchdown in 2021. Kicker Dustin Hopkins is returning to action after a rough patch, having missed six of his last nine field goals. The Bengals, who are fighting for playoff positioning, cannot afford another loss—previously limiting the Browns to 77 rushing yards in their first meeting. Chase currently boasts impressive statistics of 102 receptions for 1,413 yards and 15 touchdowns as he strives for the receiving triple crown. Despite clinching only six wins, all against teams with losing records, the Bengals have consistently battled closely in their eight losses, with seven being by a single score. Kicker Cade York has successfully converted all three field-goal attempts since his promotion from the practice squad. Defensive end Trey Hendrickson has also made headlines with 12.5 sacks this season.

For fantasy players, Bengals running back Chase Brown has shown promise, having achieved 97 yards on 25 carries along with a touchdown against the Titans, demonstrating that he can step up in the lead back role with an average of 4.4 yards per carry.