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Bengals-Browns Capsule

CINCINNATI (8-4-1) at CLEVELAND (7-6)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox.

OPENING LINE -- Bengals by 2½.

RECORD VS. SPREAD -- Cincinnati 6-7, Cleveland 8-5.

SERIES RECORD -- Bengals lead 43-39.

LAST MEETING -- Browns beat Bengals 24-3, on Nov. 6.

LAST WEEK -- Bengals lost to Steelers 42-21; Browns lost to Colts 25-24.

AP PRO32 RANKING -- Bengals No. 12, Browns No. 20.

BENGALS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (17), RUSH (10), PASS (20).

BENGALS DEFENSE -- OVERALL (28), RUSH (27), PASS (21).

BROWNS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (13), RUSH (15), PASS (16).

BROWNS DEFENSE -- OVERALL (20), RUSH (26), PASS (9).

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES -- This installment of "Battle of Ohio" has extra spice with playoff implications, trash talk and Johnny Football's first career start. ... AFC North-leading Bengals have won past three road games. ... Bengals WR A.J. Green had career-high 224 yards receiving last week vs. Steelers. ... Bengals QB Andy Dalton, who had 128.8 rating last week, had career-low 2.0 passer rating in previous meeting with Browns. He had just 10 completions and three interceptions. ... Bengals coach Marvin Lewis apologized for calling Browns rookie QB Johnny Manziel "a midget" earlier this week. ... Bengals rookie RB Jeremy Hill leads club with 729 yards rushing and six touchdowns. ... Bengals P Kevin Huber leads league in net average (44.0). ... Bengals have not allowed punt return of longer than 11 yards this season. ... Bengals LB Vincent Rey had 15 tackles last week and leads team with 97. ... After first game, Hill ripped Browns by saying, "they're probably worse than I thought." Browns were aware of his comments. ... Browns switched QBs this week, benching Brian Hoyer in favor of Manziel, who will make first career start. ... Manziel has only been on field for 18 plays this season. No. 22 overall pick came in during fourth quarter two weeks ago at Buffalo. ... Browns playing home finale. ... Browns forced four turnovers last week and are third in league with 26 takeaways. ... Browns K Billy Cundiff has missed one attempt in each of past five games. ... Browns lead league with 19 interceptions and 88 passes defensed. ... Browns rushed for 170 yards in win over Bengals last month. ... Browns held Bengals to 179 net yards in previous game. ... Browns hoping to make playoffs for first time since 2002 and second time since 1999 expansion rebirth.

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