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Let's face it the Browns are just a bad match up for the Bengals.
Their strength is our weakness on both sides of the ball. Granted our D-Line is hurting with the loss of Reader but it wouldn't matter. Our D-line is built more to stop the pass so good running teams have their way. Luckily the league is more pass happy so the match ups work in our favor most of the time.
It's all about match ups. Some teams just have your number and this current Browns team owns the current Bengals. Unlike the Ravens RPO trickery they play a smash mouth running attack. Something we don't do well against.
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The complexity of the game changed on two plays last night in my opinion.
1. The missed (obvious) no call PI/hold on Higgins on the first drive when Burrow threw deep to him. If that's called it's most likely a touchdown.
2. The drop by Thomas on the second drive on the Brows 40 yard line. If he catches that it most likely leads to points.
You connect on both those plays and it's a different ball game. It all snowballed from there.
The boys are just talkin' ball, babyyyy
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Zappe put up 38 points against the Browns. 38!
The Browns are a bad matchup...because our coaches/scheme is mediocre. Really ANY TEAM with a pass rush is a bad matchup for Zach.
The Steelers might beat us again with Watt back.
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There are other matchups that always seem to go unexpectedly. No matter how good the Patriots were they always seemed to lose in Miami. The Colts just had to beat the 2-win Jaguars last year to make the playoffs and got stomped, and always seem to against the Jaguars no matter how bad they are. For some reason the Rams have a tough time with the 49ers. Who knows why?
Maybe it wasn't just Baker Mayfield that was behind the success of the Browns against the Bengals, it's just they seem to know what were going to do, like throw to Joe Mixon on first, second and third down every drive, most times behind the line of scrimmage.
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[quote='Daddy-O' pid='1273702' dateline='1667306441']
Let's face it the Browns are just a bad match up for the Bengals.
Their strength is our weakness on both sides of the ball. Granted our D-Line is hurting with the loss of Reader but it wouldn't matter. Our D-line is built more to stop the pass so good running teams have their way. Luckily the league is more pass happy so the match ups work in our favor most of the time.
It's all about match ups. Some teams just have your number and this current Browns team owns the current Bengals. Unlike the Ravens RPO trickery they play a smash mouth running attack. Something we don't do well against.
[/quote
“Granted our D-line is hurting with the loss of Reader”? You might be surprised how much of an impact the best nose tackle in the league can have in a game like this.A guy of his caliber can also help make things easier for the linebackers,as he draws double teams to slow him down.
I feel he could have been a difference maker in this game.Not saying we would have won because of him,but think it could have been different.
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I'll give the defense somewhat of a pass do to the injures but Browns also without Teller, Njoku and with a backup QB. I give the offense zero passes , Browns without Ward no reason to have zero points through 3 quarters with Burrow , Boyd, Higgins and 3 big free agents on the offensive line.
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Reader being out definitely did not help but..........
the defense played well early and gave the offense a couple turnovers even. However the offense stunk and kept spinning their wheels so badly that a hole in the defenses dike sprung forth and then turned into a full levee break when offense kept putting them back on the field with 3 and outs and zero points.
Reader was not why the Bengals lost, believe these are the main culprits and it's 100% on the offense imo
36 total rushing yds against a team who has been getting gashed by the run all year
Sacks allowed by OL and allowing constant pressure on QB
3rd down efficiency
Less than 200 yds passing
Time of possession, the Brown offense was much more efficient than the Bengals were and it's that simple.
Bad punting and kicking did not help either.
Just can't hang this one on the D personally plus Browns had their fair share of injured players too. This team has to look in the mirror and find an identity quickly.
The water tastes funny when you're far from your home,
yet it's only the thirsty that hunger to roam.
Roam the Jungle !