Two teams from the AFC North meet up on Thursday night when the Cincinnati Bengals head to Cleveland to face the Browns. Both teams lost in week one but the Bengals looked much more competitive in their defeat than the Browns did. To be fair, Cleveland had to contend with one of the best teams in the AFC, when they faced Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1.
Joe Burrow’s debut as the quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals started off well, but closed rather poorly. The Los Angeles Chargers rallied back in the fourth quarter and scored ten unanswered points to win the game, 16-13.With both teams looking for their first win of the season, and the Bengals coming in as heavy underdogs, who should you put your money on?
Burrow versus Baker, Heisman versus Heisman
Thursday night presents a perfect opportunity for Burrow to show off his skills – a primetime game against a Cleveland team that got embarrassed in Week 1. The issue needing to be addressed by the Bengals before Thursday night’s game is how they plan to protect their star quarterback. The Chargers recorded three sacks against the Bengals on Sunday, giving Burrow very little time to move the ball down the field. That lack of protection inevitably led to his interception late in the game.
Joe Burrow admitted his mistakes in his post-game conference and is already showing the maturity of a veteran. Burrow wants to be more effective on offense, and should be able to do so against a weak Browns defense. A big factor in the Bengals offense is Burrow’s ability to extend plays with his legs. Jackson did the same in Week 1 against the Browns and throttled Cleveland 38-6.
Can Baker Be Better in Week 2?
Baker Mayfield struggled to move his team down the field against the Ravens defense, which is understandable considering Cleveland’s historic struggles on offense. The Browns can bounce back this week against the Bengals, provided Mayfield has enough time in the pocket. After being sacked twice, Mayfield’s season opener mirrored Burrow’s in that the two young quarterbacks faced duress most of the game.
The Browns offense lost another weapon after placing TE David Njoku on the IR. Wide receiver Jarvis Landry is also questionable for Thursday’s game which would leave Cleveland down two big time threats on offense.
Betting Pick: Cincinatti Bengals +6
Burrow and the Bengals got off to a rough start in his first professional game, but he handled it well and knows how to make adjustments heading into game two. He also uses his legs to extend plays and isn’t scared to tuck it and run.
The Browns on the other hand have potentially lost two weapons on offense, and have also lost starting defensive back Greedy Williams as well as linebacker Mack Wilson. Look for Burrow to pick apart the already weak Browns defense and claim his first NFL win. Take the Bengals +6.
