Cleveland Browns put season on the line in Monday Night showdown vs. Cincinnati Bengals

CLEVELAND − Harrison Bryant was like a lot of kids growing up. To him, Monday night meant one thing in the fall.

It meant that you were in front of your television watching Monday Night Football.

“Growing up as a kid you always watched it, hear the theme song, what was that, Hank Williams Jr. and then Carrie Underwood?," Bryant said last week. "Those are the first two things you think about Monday Night Football and being the only game on. It’s a huge stage and a huge opportunity to go out and not only play well personally but get a huge team win."

Bryant will get his chance to perform on Monday Night Football this Monday, as the Browns welcome in the Cincinnati Bengals. The Browns will need to play well personally, because they absolutely need to come away with a huge team win as their season teeters on the brink just ahead of the bye week.

Browns vs. Bengals:How does Cleveland slow Joe Burrow? 'Put him in the dirt,' says Myles Garrett

The Browns come into Monday night's game skidding through a four-game losing streak. That's taken them to 2-5 on the season.

The last time the Browns were on prime time this season, they came away with a big Week 3 win over another AFC North rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers. That win put them, in the moment, at 2-1 and in first place in the division.

The Browns now go into their last scheduled prime-time game just hoping to have some meaning for the post-bye schedule. The only way that happens is if they come away with their fifth consecutive win over the Bengals, and their second big AFC North prime-time win.

“It’s very special," running back Nick Chubb said. "The atmosphere will be there. The fans will be there. It’ll be night time. It’s a division opponent, so it will be a great atmosphere.”

Matchup to watch: Browns CB Martin Emerson Jr. vs. Bengals WR Tee Higgins

How many times do we actually see this specific matchup? It's hard to say. It's just as apt to be Emerson, the rookie, against Tyler Boyd as it is him against Higgins. Or, it could be, assuming he plays, Greg Newsome II against Higgins. Regardless, this is about the Browns defensive backs against the two remaining Bengals receivers. Ja'Marr Chase may be out for the game, but Higgins and Boyd are still very dangerous threats. With Denzel Ward also out for the Browns, the onus will be on their top picks in the last two drafts to try and limit the Cincinnati receivers from making big plays. A week ago, Boyd had a huge game against Atlanta, including a 60-yard touchdown catch. Higgins has had his moments as well, and is actually the No. 2 receiver statistically behind Chase. So, that puts Emerson, Newsome and the rest of the secondary under the microscope.

Cleveland Browns player to watch: DE Myles Garrett

There's no sense overthinking this spot. The success of the Browns' defense rests with its ability to put pressure on Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. That pressure starts with Myles Garrett, who has been successful in the past against the former No. 1 overall pick for Cincinnati. He's sacked Burrow 4.5 times in three career games. Garrett needs to get to the quarterback regularly Monday night in order to not allow Burrow to pick apart the Browns' secondary. If Burrow gets to be comfortable in the pocket, he'll get to remove the zero he currently has in the win column against Cleveland. If Garrett can get to him, it gives the Browns a chance to maintain some dominance in this series.

Cincinnati Bengals player to watch: RB Joe Mixon

Remember the Los Angeles Chargers? They were the team that came to Cleveland three weeks ago with everyone talking about their young, hot-shot quarterback with the quick release. What everyone forgot about was their running back, Austin Ekeler, who went out and had a field day running the ball. That's a long-winded way of setting up a similar scenario as the Bengals come to the shores of Lake Erie. The talk is of how much Cincinnati has had success throwing the ball with Burrow. What that overlooks is Joe Mixon, a very dangerous running back who has had success in the past against the Browns. The former Oklahoma standout has, in eight career games against Cleveland, rushed for 718 yards and six touchdowns on 149 attempts, as well as caught 29 passes for 286 yards.

Three numbers: Bengals don't allow second-half touchdowns

0

The Bengals have played seven games coming into Monday night. Over those seven games, they have not allowed a single touchdown to their opponents all season. In fact, they've barely allowed any points, giving up just 30 points in the third or fourth quarters, or overtime, this season. They've allowed nine second-half points − on three Justin Tucker field goals − in a Oct. 9 loss at Baltimore, the most they've allowed in any second half this season. They've allowed three or less points in the second half of four of their seven games, including a second-half shutout of Atlanta last week.

5-10

The Browns' best moment of the 2021 season came last Nov. 7 when they went down to Cincinnati and handed the Bengals a 41-16 loss. The game started with a Ward pick-6 and ended as the biggest margin of victory for Cleveland that season and largest margin of defeat for Cincinnati. Both teams also left at 5-4 on the season. It went divergent ways after that. The Browns have lost 10 of their 15 games played since that day, while the Bengals have won 12 of their last 19, which includes a run to the Super Bowl last February.

94.6

Feeding Chubb the football is typically a good philosophy to have on offense for the Browns. It's definitely good to have when facing the Bengals. Chubb has rushed for 662 yards in seven career games against Cincinnati, an average of 94.6 yards per game. He's carried the ball 120 times against the Bengals, for an average of 5.52 yards per carry. Chubb has topped the 100-yard plateau four times against Cincinnati, including 137 yards in that Nov. 7 win last year.

Contact Chris at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com.

On Twitter: @ceasterling ABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns put season on the line vs. Bengals on Monday Night Football