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The Cincinnati Bengals have lost two games in a row but have a chance to end their match against a familiar opponent that they have completely dominated in recent seasons.
After falling back into the peloton with four losses in their last five games, the Bengals will look to get back on track when they host the Cleveland Browns in a match against North AFC. Sunday afternoon.
Cincinnati, among five teams at 5-5 in the AFC, has won seven straight games against his intra-state rivals. And the rivalry was not great during this period: the Bengals won every game with an average margin of more than 21 points. The closest match of that period was a 23-10 win in December 2016.
"It's like the first game of the season," said John Ross, catcher of Cincinnati, about the race for sixth place in the playoffs. "We must continue to prove ourselves and go out to win this game." Winning the next game. "Because every game from now on is very decisive for what we want to be. take it and how hard we work to get exactly where we want to be. "
The Browns (3-6-1) have already won more games than their previous two seasons, but they will try to end a run of seven straight defeats against the Bengals.
Cleveland, who beat Cincinnati for the last time in November 2014, lost 25 straight games and a defeat on Sunday would connect the Browns to the Detroit Lions (2007-10) for the longest losing streak in NFL history.
"The most important match of the last six matches is this week, but we are on the road and we have discussed important things for the road and the concentration we have on the road," said the coach. Acting Head Gregg Williams. "We have four of the last six on the road, so all of that – as staff, we talked about it, but from the point of view of the players at the meetings, I pointed out that it was the match the most important because that is what happens next. "
There is also a notable secondary plot in the contest. Hue Jackson, who was sacked as the Browns' head coach on Oct. 29, is now part of Marvin Lewis's staff with Cincinnati. He was hired as a defensive assistant on November 13th.
Jackson was the offensive coordinator in 2014 and 2015 with the Bengals, who served as a springboard to clinch the top position with Cleveland. Now working on the defensive side of the ball, Jackson could give a glimpse of Brown's offense patterns.
"I think Hue understands their staff," acknowledged Lewis. "He understands part of the way, especially on the defensive side, of how the plan was developed.Its implication in this sense is that it can be an asset to us in some ways."
However, the Browns downplayed the impact that Jackson would have on the result, insisting that the match will be settled based on their performance.
"We do not change (anything), man, point," said Damarious Randall, Cleveland's security officer. "We are going to play football, we are going to swarm, attack and hit, which is what we know how to do and that is exactly what we are going to do."
Rashard Higgins, wide catcher added: "This is not what Hue Jackson knows, but how we are going to do our thing.We are not worried about it.We'll just play and play."
The Bengals hope wide receiver A.J. Green will return to the lineup after missing two games due to a toe injury. Andy Dalton was 31 out of 56 for 364 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions in the last two games without Green, who could coach later in the week, said Lewis.
"We just have to find a way," said General Tyler Boyd in Cincinnati. "It would make us a lot better, he's the best player on our team and his help relieves a lot of guys, I think we just need to play more pieces."
Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield is likely to rely on fellow rookie Nick Chubb, who collected 176 yards and a touchdown in a 28-16 touchdown against Atlanta on Nov. 11 before the team's week off.
"He's a good runner," said Williams. "It protects football very well, what you need to be able to do if you want to step over everyone or be considered one of the beginners is its overall vision. that. "
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