Cleveland Browns vs Cincinnati Bengals 1/9/22 NFL Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals clash Sunday afternoon in a week 18 NFL AFC North matchup at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Cincinnati Bengals look to build on their three-game winning streak. The Cleveland Browns look to snap a three-game losing streak.

The Cincinnati Bengals have won five of their last six road games. Joe Burrow is completing 70.4 percent of his passes for 4,611 yards, 34 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins have combined for 2,520 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns, while Tyler Boyd has 67 receptions. The Cincinnati Bengals ground game is averaging 103.9 yards per contest, and Joe Mixon leads the way with 1,205 yards and 13 touchdowns. Defensively, Cincinnati is allowing 22.2 points and 349.3 yards per game. Logan Wilson leads the Cincinnati Bengals with 100 tackles, Trey Hendrickson has 14 sacks and Eli Apple has 2 interceptions.

The Cleveland Browns have won five of their last eight home games. Baker Mayfield is completing 60.5 percent of his passes for 3,010 yards, 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Jarvis Landry and Donovan Peoples-Jones have combined for 1,054 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns, while David Njoku has 34 receptions. The Cleveland Browns ground game is averaging 141.6 yards per contest, and Nick Chubb leads the way with 1,201 yards and 8 touchdowns. Defensively, Cleveland is allowing 22.2 points and 319.6 yards per game. Anthony Walker leads the Cleveland Browns with 97 tackles, Myles Garrett has 15 sacks and John Johnson III has 3 interceptions.

The Bengals are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 road games and 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall. The Browns are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 home games and 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games overall. The over is 7-3 in Bengals last 10 games overall. The under is 5-1 in Browns last 6 games overall. The Bengals are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 meetings in Cleveland and 11-3 ATS in their last 14 meetings.

This line tells me that oddsmakers believe the Cincinnati Bengals will rest starters, but they can go anywhere from the fourth seed to the first seed, so there’s still things to play for despite wrapping up the division. The Cleveland Browns have a short week for this contest and aren’t playing good football right now. Mayfield continues to struggle and that Browns defense has had issues stopping the run. No matter who plays for the Bengals, I’m not siding with the Browns as a favorite. Give me the free field goal with the Bengals.