The Cleveland Browns kick off the season this Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Below is a collection of what the national media think about the game, followed by the picks that our experts here at Dawgs By Nature are making.
Here is what the national media is saying about the Week 1 game between the Browns and Bengals — the consensus seems to be that Cincinnati will win, but is it a surprise that many are calling for a high-scoring affair if we’re to believe in the Browns’ defense?
CBS Sports (Pete Prisco) – Bengals 30, Browns 27
The battle
of Ohio is always interesting, and this one should be no different. This is Joe Flacco against Joe Burrow, which is a big edge for the Bengals. They should continue where they left off last year rolling up big offensive numbers. The defense has questions, but the Browns won’t be able to keep up. It’s close, but Burrow wins it.
CBS Sports (John Breech) – Bengals 20, Browns 17
Sporting News (Vinnie Iyer) – Bengals 24, Browns 20
Joe Burrow and Zac Taylor are known for notorious slow starts even as strong favorites. They will have that history back in the Bengals’ minds with winning being the only goal, no matter how ugly in a rivalry game against Myles Garrett and the Browns’ defense.
Sporting News (Bill Bender) – Bengals 31, Browns 21
The Bengals’ slow starts have been well-documented, and that is why Joe Burrow played more that most starting QBs in the preseason. Burrow is 1-3 S/U as a starter at Cleveland – a staggering stat all things considered. Yet he had 181 yards and two TDs in a 21-14 victory last season, and the Browns have an unsettled long-term QB plan with Joe Flacco. What else is new? Cleveland was 2-4 ATS as a home underdog last season.
Below are our Week 1 NFL staff picks:
