Cleveland offense vs. Cincinnati defense

	BROWNS OFFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	Run	31
	Pass	29
	Tot. Yds.	31
	Scoring	31
	Int's allowed	13
	Sacks allowed	51
	BENGALS DEFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	vs. Run	19
	vs. Pass	26
	Total yds. allowed	25
	# of Ints.	26
	# of Sacks	29
	Turnover differential	-6

Cleveland would desperately like to establish a running game to take some of the pressure off of its rookie quarterback Sunday, but as usual they will struggle in doing so. The Browns are healthy up front, but they simply do not have the horses to generate running lanes and sustain drives.

The Bengals are not stout against the run, giving up an average of 105.9-yards per game on the ground, but they do have an athletic linebacking corps, and the Browns running backs do not have enough flair as a unit to break any runs in the open field.

Cleveland's simple running scheme will meet the Bengal defense at the wrong time of the season. The Bengals switched from a "34" scheme to more four-man fronts recently to help stack against the run and generate more pressure on the quarterback. The revamped alignment, known as the Elephant Package, features a fourth down lineman, usually Kimo von Oelhoffen or Glen Steele, to replace ROLB Adrian Ross. With a bigger body on the line, the defense is stacking better at the line of scrimmage and is creating more of a surge.

QB Tim Couch has been under constant pressure this season, and the Bengals will look to continue that trend. By getting upfield, it forces a disruption in the backfield that throws off the timing of the running attack. Good teams are capable of beating the pressure by catching the defense out of position with screens, misdirection and draws, but the Browns do not have the athletes in the backfield to make plays that would force a defense to play a more honest scheme.

The Browns are going to be forced to the air, and it could be the best idea against a Cincinnati secondary that has had some trouble of its own. The corners, Artrell Hawkins and Rodney Heath are playing better and with more confidence, but they are still giving up too many big plays.

The critical matchup is Hawkins on WR Kevin Johnson. If the Browns are going to get some big plays to stay in the game, it is going to be on this side of the field. Hawkins may have his hands full covering Johnson if he is stuck in single-man coverage. The one advantage Hawkins does have is the fact that the Browns have few other options in their receiving corps and that his front seven should be able to get great pressure on QB Tim Couch. Hawkins is the team's best cover corner, but he will take some false steps in coverage and he has had some trouble this season against receivers with deep speed similar to Johnson's.

Look for the Bengals to roll coverage to Hawkins side, giving him help in the deep third. The Brown's receives are going to have to do a better job of complementing Johnson who will draw a lot more double coverage, which will leave more room for the complementary receivers to work.

The biggest turnaround for the Bengal's offense has been the play up front, where the offensive line is finally coming together as a unit, missing less-and-less assignments each week. The running lanes have been there the past couple of weeks and Blake has had time to throw in the pocket.

Blake's best attribute is his mindset. He is a fearless quarterback who will take chances. When given time, Blake has done an excellent job of timing his throws and putting the ball where his big-receivers can go up and make plays. The biggest complaint in this offense has been that the receivers are among the top tandems in the league, but do not get enough touches.

Sunday, the Bengals will look to get vertical against a Browns secondary that is going to have trouble matching up in size. The problem the Browns have is that they are undersized up front as well, and cannot afford to play honest against the run.

Cincinnati has won every time that RB Corey Dillon has run the ball over 22 times in the game. Dillon should have a big day against a defense that is allowing 165.8 yards per game on the ground. Dillon is going to be the biggest key for the Browns to stop. If Dillon gets rolling early on, which he should given the recent breakout of the Bengal's offensive line, Cleveland is going to be forced to desert their secondary by walking up a safety closer to the line of scrimmage. In this case, the Bengal's are going to have a field day working the ball to Darnay Scott and Carl Pickens in the deep third of the field, where the free safety will be forced to pick a side in coverage, leaving one of the two in mismatch man-to-man coverage.

Chris Gardocki is still the most used punter in the league, averaging 43.9-yards per punt on 87-attempts. Ronnie Powell has shown some flash as a young punt return specialist, averaging 23.3-yards per return with a long of 66-yards. Cleveland's punt coverage team is allowing 11.1-yards per return with a touchdown. The unit has done a poor job of keeping its lanes and tackling down field.