The Cincinnati Bengals are set to face their rivals, the Cleveland Browns, this Sunday at Paycor Stadium for the second matchup of the season, commencing at 1:00 p.m. EST. The anticipation builds as fans gear up for another thrilling edition of the 'Battle of Ohio.'
The matchup will be broadcasted live on CBS, with commentary from Spero Dedes as play-by-play announcer, Adam Archuleta serving as analyst, and Aditi Kinkhabwala reporting from the sidelines. Fans will also have multiple options for streaming, including Paramount+ for local viewers, NFL+ for mobile users, and NFL Game Pass International for international fans (excluding Canada and China).
On the radio, the Bengals' voice can be heard on the Bengals Radio Network via Cincinnati flagship stations WCKY-AM (1530), WEBN-FM (102.7), and WLW700, with Dan Hoard and Dave Lapham calling the action.
This week, all eyes are on Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase as he progresses toward breaking multiple records. Chase enters this game leading the NFL with 102 receptions, 1,413 receiving yards, and 15 touchdowns this season. The former LSU star is now just 10 catches shy of matching T.J. Houshmandzadeh’s single-season team record of 112 receptions, set during his Pro Bowl season in 2007. With another touchdown, Chase can tie Hall of Famer Bob Hayes for the third-most receiving touchdowns within the first four seasons of a player’s NFL career, at 45.
Joe Burrow, the Bengals' quarterback, is also on track to make history with his record-breaking performance this season. Having thrown for over 3,977 yards, he holds the franchise record with 36 touchdown passes. Burrow's recent stats of 271 yards and three touchdowns against Tennessee mark him as only the second quarterback after Tom Brady (in 2007) to achieve 250 yards and three touchdowns for six consecutive games. With another 300-yard performance, Burrow could surpass his own team record for most 300-yard games within a single season.
Meanwhile, Bengals' second-year running back, Chase Brown, continues to climb the ranks with his solid performance. He leads the team with 1,150 yards from scrimmage and has recorded over 100 scrimmage yards for four consecutive games. This is the longest active streak among NFL running backs, making him one to watch this Sunday.
Another player having notable performances is the Bengals’ safety, Geno Stone, who is coming off back-to-back interception games. He previously made significant plays against the Cowboys and Titans and aims to continue his streak against the Browns this week. Stone is currently tied for second-most interceptions league-wide this season.
Fans heading to the game are encouraged to participate in the 'Stripe the Jungle' initiative, where they will wear colors corresponding to their seating section to create a visually appealing striped effect throughout the stadium. The Bengals are set to don their traditional orange tiger-stripe helmets along with black jerseys and orange pants, complementing the fan effort.
The Bengals have not swept the Browns since 2017, and with the competition heating up, Cincinnati leads the series with 54 wins to Cleveland's 48. This rivalry is particularly fierce, having included more matchups against each other than any other opponent aside from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Leading up to the game, Bengals coach Zac Taylor praised the development and contributions of players like Chase Brown and the continuing impact of veteran players. This enhanced chemistry within the team is expected to play a pivotal role on Sunday.
While Cincinnati has found rhythm on both offense and defense this year, Cleveland will be no easy task, especially with Dorian Thompson-Robinson making his starting debut against them. The pressure will be on the Bengals defense to maintain their solid performance against this challenging opponent.
On the injury front, rookie tackle Amarius Mims suffered a left ankle injury during Week 16; he was momentarily evaluated before returning to the field. Updates on his condition will be closely followed as the Bengals prepare for the Browns.
With kickoff approaching, excitement bubbles over as fans and players alike look forward to what promises to be an exhilarating matchup. The stakes are high as Cincinnati aims to solidify their standings and continue their success, motivating each player to deliver their best performance of the season.
