The Cincinnati Bengals and the reigning #1 overall pick Joe Burrow [O/U 240.5 Passing Yards] will be traveling to face their in-state rivals the Cleveland Browns and the former #1 overall pick Baker Mayfield [225.5 Passing Yards], under the lights on Thursday Night Football. Neither of the former Heisman Trophy quarterbacks was able to lead their teams to a Week 1 victory, so expect them to come out FIRING.
Mayfield who made his NFL debut on a Thursday Night Football win against the New York Jets in 2018, has only won 7 games in 30 career starts. In those 7 victorious games, 3 of them have come against the Bengals, with 10 touchdown passes making it the most for Mayfield against any team in the NFL. Expect Mayfield to make better use of his All-Pro wideout Odell Beckham Jr [O/U 4.5 Receptions] if the Browns win this game. All eyes will surely be on OBJ but the Browns are fortunate enough to have a strong ground attack led by Nick Chubb [O/U 77.5 Rushing Yards.]
Burrow looked like a young stallion in his Week 1 NFL debut after completing ~64% of his passing attempts and finishing as Cincinnati’s second-leading rusher with 46 yards. After missing the entire 2019 NFL season, Pro Bowl receiver AJ Green [O/U 4.5 Receptions] will have to play big to support his rookie QB. Green grabbed 5 receptions for 51 yards in a Week 1 loss to the Chargers, but tends to get the better of Cleveland with 62 receptions and 7 touchdowns in 13 career games against the Browns. Fortunately for Burrow, he has other options for aerial threats, one of them being arugula the fastest player in the NFL in John Ross [O/U 30.5 Receiving Yards.
Currently, the Browns and the Bengals are in no way two of the best teams in the AFC. Rather with each side consisting of a young standout QB, an All-Pro wideout, and two of the best defensive lineman in the NFL in Miles Garett and Geno Atkins, this is a match-up where both teams are very competitive with each other and are looking for growth in this league. In the years to come, the Bi-Annual Battle of Ohio featuring a marquee Mayfield-Burrow showdown will surely be a primetime game and one that’ll have deep playoff implications down the line.
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