STADIUM: Paycor Stadium
REFEREE: Alan Eck
DATE: Sunday, January 7, 2024
GAME TIME: 1:00 PM ET
CBS: Tom McCarthy, James Lofton, Jay Feely, Tiffany Blackmon
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) CLE: 139 or 384 CIN: 109 or 229
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY REG. SEASON: CIN leads series, 52-48 (CLE won 6 of past 7). THE LAST TIME: REG. SEASON: 9/10/23: CIN 3 at CLE 24.
HEAD COACHES NOTES: Zac Taylor vs. Opponent (incl. postseason): 2-7 Reg. Season: 36-44-1 (.451) Postseason: 5-2 (.714). Kevin Stefanski vs. Opponent (incl. postseason): 6-1 Reg. Season: 37-29 (.561) Postseason: 1-1 (.500).
CINCINNATI BENGALS NOTES:
• QB JAKE BROWNING totaled 229 yards (197 pass, 32 rush) & 2 TDs (1 pass, 1 rush) vs. 0 INTs last week. Has 103.8 rating in 3 home starts this season, with 2 TD passes in 2 of 3 games. Since becoming Cin. starter in Week 12, leads NFL with 1,712 pass yards & ranks 2nd with 71.1 comp. pct.
• RB JOE MIXON had 87 scrimmage yards (65 rush, 22 rec.) & TD catch last week. Has TD in 4 of past 5. Has 70+ scrimmage yards in 9 of his past 10 vs. Cle. Is only RB with 1,200+ scrimmage yards in each of past 3 seasons. Needs 77 rush yards for 4th-career season with 1,000+ rush yards. Has 2nd-career season with 10+ TDs (10).
• WR JA’MARR CHASE has 60+ rec. yards in 3 of his past 4 at home. Had 10 catches for 119 yards & TD in last home meeting (12/11/22). Needs 4 catches to become 3rd player in franchise history with 100-catch season (T.J. Houshmandzadeh & Carl Pickens). Is 1 of 4 in NFL with 80+ catches, 1,000+ rec. yards & 7+ rec. TDs in each of past 3 seasons.
• WR TEE HIGGINS has 60+ rec. yards in 3 of past 4 & rec. TD in 2 of past 3. Is the 4th Bengal ever with 5+ rec. TDs in each of 1st 4 seasons.
• WR TYLER BOYD has 50+ rec. yards in 2 of past 3.
• DE TREY HENDRICKSON had sack & FF last week, 7th-straight game with full sack, longest active streak in NFL. Had sack & PD in Week 1 meeting & has 0.5+ sacks in 3 of 4 career games vs. Cle. Ties for NFL lead with single-season franchise record 17 sacks.
• DT B.J. HILL had a sack in Week 1 meeting. Has 5+ tackles in 2 of past 3. Aims for 3rd in row at home with PD.
• LB SAM HUBBARD had 5 tackles & FR last week. Has sack in 3 of his past 4 vs. Cle. Has 5th-career season with 5+ sacks (5).
• CB MIKE HILTON had 2 TFL & 2nd sack of season in Week 17. Has 5+ tackles in 8 of past 9. Has career-best 81 tackles & 11 TFL in 2023.
CLEVELAND BROWNS NOTES:
• BROWNS clinched postseason for 2nd time in past 20 years (2020). Lead NFL in total defense (266.6 yards allowed/game).
• QB JOE FLACCO is 1st player in NFL history with 250+ pass yards & 2+ TD passes in each of 1st 5 games with a team & 2nd player ever with 300+ pass yards in 4 of 1st 5 games with a team (Brian Hoyer w/ Chi. in 2016). Is 2nd player age 38+ with 300+ pass yards in 4 straight games within single season (Tom Brady in 2017). Since becoming Cle. starter in Week 13, leads NFL with 1,616 pass yards & 13 TD passes.
• QB JEFF DRISKEL expected to make 1st start of season & Cle debut. Started 5 games for Cin. in 2018.
• RB JEROME FORD had 121 scrimmage yards (64 rush, 57 rec.) & career-high 2 rec. TDs last week, 3rd-career 100-yard game (all this season). Aims for 3rd in row with TD. Has 1,100 scrimmage yards & 9 TDs (5 rec., 4 rush) in 2023, 1st-career 1,000-yard season.
• RB KAREEM HUNT has rush TD in 3 of past 4 & in each of past 2. Has a career-high 9 rush TDs this season.
• WR AMARI COOPER aims for his 4th in row with 75+ rec. yards & 3rd in row with 100+ rec. yards & rec. TD. Is 4th player ever with 5+ rec. TDs in each of 1st 9 seasons.
• WR ELIJAH MOORE had 5 catches for 61 yards & TD last week.
• TE DAVID NJOKU had season-high 134 rec. yards in Week 17. Aims for 5th in row with 6+ catches & has rec. TD in 3 of past 4.
• DE MYLES GARRETT had 14th sack of season last week. Aims for 5th in row with TFL. Has sack in 9 of 10 career games vs. Cin. Needs sack for 3rd-straight season with 15+ sacks.
• DE ALEX WRIGHT aims for 4th in row with sack & 3rd in row with PD.
• LB JEREMIAH OWUSU-KORAMOAH had 11 tackles & 2 TFL last week & has 2 TFL in 3 of past 4. Ranks 3rd in NFL with 20 TFL.
