Browns vs Bengals in Battle of Ohio

The latest installment of the Battle of Ohio could be billed as the Backup Quarterback Bowl.

When the Cleveland Browns (4-10) and visiting Cincinnati Bengals (2-11-1) clash on the frigid and blustery shore of Lake Erie on Sunday afternoon, Brady Quinn, Derek Anderson and Carson Palmer will be watching from the sideline. With the Browns’ dueling starters and the Bengals’ franchise signal-caller all injured and out for the remainder of their respective teams’ dismal seasons, it will be Ken Dorsey and Ryan Fitzpatrick taking the snaps in a game that, regardless of the outcome, will test the mettle of the most ardent of fans and will be relegated come Sunday evening to a fleeting few obligatory seconds on the national highlight shows.

“Both teams had high expectations at the beginning of the year, and it hasn’t gone that way for either squad,” Browns offensive lineman Eric Steinbach, a former member of the Bengals, said this week.

“This season has not gone the way that I wanted it to go, I know it hasn’t gone the way that you guys wanted it to go, but it is what it is,” Browns head coach Romeo Crennel said to reporters at a news conference on Tuesday, a day after the Browns were hammered by the Philadelphia Eagles 30-10 on Monday Night Football. “It’s disappointing, it’s frustrating and all we can do is try to go out and do the best that we can. That hasn’t been good enough; there’s been some close games that if we make a play here or there then we probably have more victories. Whether that would be enough to make a major difference, who knows? We’re not happy with where we are, and so we’re going to try to play better these last two games. That’s all we really can do, and if we can be competitive in the games and then make some plays then we’ll have a chance to win.”

The loss at Philadelphia was the Browns' fourth straight and also was the fourth consecutive game that their offense failed to score a touchdown. Cleveland cornerback Brandon McDonald's interception return for a score against the Eagles represented the first and only touchdown the Browns have tallied since Nov. 17, when they defeated the Buffalo Bills 29-27. Since then, the Cleveland offense has produced no touchdowns and a total of eight field goals in successive losses to the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans and Philadelphia Eagles.

Find a great selection of Cleveland Browns apparel & merchandise online through Pro Football Fans.

Cincinnati, meanwhile, is coming off a surprising 20-13 win last Sunday over the Washington Redskins. It was just the second victory of the season for the Bengals, who lost their first eight games before beating Jacksonville 21-19 on Nov. 2. The Bengals followed up their triumph over the Jaguars with a 13-13 tie against the Eagles on Nov. 16.

Back on Sept. 28, the Browns defeated the Bengals 20-12 in Cincinnati in the first game Fitzpatrick started in relief of Palmer, who has been sidelined due to an elbow injury.

Dorsey will be making his third consecutive start for the Browns following the season-ending injuries to Quinn (broken finger) and Anderson (torn MCL in his left knee).

Cincinnati Bengals (2-11-1) at Cleveland Browns (4-10)

1 p.m. EST Sunday, Dec. 21 on CBS-TV

All-time series: This is the 71 st meeting, with the two teams tied at 35-35 through the first 70 games. Browns won last matchup, 20-12 in Cincinnati on Sept. 28

Prediction: Browns 27, Bengals 24

By Tom Kessler
ProFootball-fans.com Cleveland Browns Correspondent