[OLD HEAD]

The Bengals lost their last September game in 2004.

I will bet that trend continues today as they travel to Cleveland to take their season to 2-0.

The defense looked pretty good last week and allowed the Ravens just 316 yards of offense and had six takeaways.

The potent Bengal offense, up against one of the toughest defenses in the NFL, still managed the win, 27-20 with only 236 net yards of offense.

Cleveland is coming off a home opener loss to Pittsburg 34-7.They have traded away opening day QB Charlie Frey to Seattle and Derek Anderson is starting today with Brady Quinn now the number two QB.

Too much power for the Browns to contend with today.Too much confusion in Cleveland

The Bengals won both meetings against the Browns last season
34-17 at Paul Brown Stadium and 30-0 in Cleveland.

Bengals -7 (2) Units.


CINCINNATI BENGALS (1-0) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (0-1)

SERIES

BENGALS
BROWNS

SERIES LEADER 34-33 (Bengals)


STREAKS 6 of past 8 (Bengals)


COACHES VS. OPP. Lewis: 6-2
Crennel: 0-4

LAST WEEK W 27-20 vs. Ravens (Bengals)
L 34-7 vs. Steelers (Browns)

LAST GAME
11/26/06: Bengals 30 at Browns 0. Cincinnati posted 1st shutout since 1989 en route to defeating AFC North rival Cleveland for record 5th consecutive time.

LAST GAME AT SITE 11/26/06

STATS

PASSING Palmer: 20-32-194-2-0-100.3
Anderson: 13-28-184-1-1-65.2

RUSHING R. Johnson: 18-50-2.8-0
Lewis: 11-35-3.2-0

RECEIVING Houshmandzadeh: 9 (T2L)-50-5.6-1 (T3C)
Winslow (TE): 4-83-20.8-0

OFFENSE 236.0
221.0

TAKE/GIVE +4 (T1L)
-4

DEFENSE 314.0
365.0

SACKS A. Brooks, Geathers: 1.0
Peek, Thompson: .5

INTs Geathers, Myers: 1 (T1L)
---

PUNTING Larson: 44.9
Ernster: 36.6

KICKING Graham: 7 (1/1 PAT; 2/3 FG)
Dawson: 1 (1/1 PAT; 0/0 FG)


NOTES
BENGALS: Club aims to start 2-0 in AFC North.
QB CARSON PALMER has 5-1 record (.833) & 13 TDs in 6 games vs. Browns. In last meeting, Palmer completed 25 of 32 (78.1) passes for 275 yards with 3 TDs vs. 1 INT & 120.7 passer rating.
RB RUDI JOHNSON has rushed for 125+ yards in 4 of last 5 vs. Browns. Johnson has 9 TDs in 9 games vs. Cle., including 1+ TD in 6 of past 7.
After recording 90 rec. yards last week, WR CHAD JOHNSON needs 82 yards to become Bengals all-time leader (ISAAC CURTIS, 7,101). Johnson needs 60 catches to pass CARL PICKENS (530) as clubs all-time receptions leader.
WR T. J. HOUSHMANDZADEH led team with 9 catches for 50 yards (5.5 avg.) & 1 TD in Monday night win.
In 06, Houshmandzadeh (90) & Johnson (87) had 2nd-most combined rec. by AFC WR tandem, trailing Colts WRs MARVIN HARRISON (95) & REGGIE WAYNE (86)
Team is 25-3 (.892) under Lewis with positive turnover differential.Club posted +4 turnover differential last week.
In season debut, DT MICHAEL MYERS posted 1st INT of 10-year career. DE ROBERT GEATHERS registered 2nd INT of career last week 1st since 1/2/05 vs. Phi.

BROWNS: Club aims for 1-1 (.500) record in division.

QB DEREK ANDERSON completed 13 of 28 passes for 184 yards with 1 TD vs. Pit. Anderson has played in 6 games with 3 starts in career.
RB JAMAL LEWIS (with Ravens) has gained 100+ plus yards in 8 of 11 career games & totaled 236 carries for 1,243 (5.6 avg) & 9 TDs vs. Bengals...
WR BRAYLON EDWARDS recorded 100-yard receiving game vs. Bengals on 9/17/06. Set career highs in 06 with 61 receptions for 884 yards & 3 TDs.
TE KELLEN WINSLOW led team with 4 receptions for 83 yards (20.8 avg.) in 07 debut. Winslow has 10 catches for 94 yards (9.4 avg.) in 2 contests vs. Bengals.
Rookie CB ERIC WRIGHT started in debut last week, posting 5 tackles.LB KAMERION WIMBLEY recorded 1 sack vs. Bengals last season. Led team in sacks as rookie (11)LB ANTWAN PEEK registered .5 sack in Browns debut last week.
KR/WR JOSHUA CRIBBS set club record with 61 KR for 1,494 yards last season. Last week, Cribbs returned 4 kickoffs for 98 yards (24.5 avg.).