Sep 23, 2008 - 11:23 AM
0 shoutsCLEVELAND (0-3) AT CINCINNATI (0-3), 1:00 pm EDT
CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- There are two O's in Ohio, but one of the state's professional football teams will no longer have a zero by its name by the end of the weekend.
The battle of Ohio commences on Sunday when the Cincinnati Bengals host the Cleveland Browns in an AFC North clash between a pair of 0-3 squads.
Neither team expected to be in this predicament, particularly Cleveland, which was tabbed as a contender for the division title following a 10-6 record last season.
Although they have faced one of the league's toughest early-season schedules, the Browns have been feeble on offense, registering a league-low 26 points. One of the biggest culprits has been quarterback Derek Anderson, who has taken a huge step backward off his Pro Bowl season of 2007.
Anderson has completed just 46 percent (43-of-93) of his passes with two touchdowns and five interceptions - a stark contrast to last season, when he tosses 29 touchdowns and 19 picks.
Coach Romeo Crennel said Monday that he is sticking with Anderson as his quarterback for now, but acknowledged he will start giving backup Brady Quinn some repetitions in practice this week.
"We will definitely try to get the other guy ready and ready to go," Crennel said. "We'll see how it progresses from there. Probably a few more reps in practice right now."
Pro Bowl wide receiver Braylon Edwards also is struggling, with just eight receptions for 73 yards, and dropped five passes in the first two games. Last season, Edwards had 80 catches and 16 touchdowns.
Cincinnati showed signs of getting its offense untracked in last week's 26-23 overtime loss at the New York Giants.
After scoring just 17 points in their first two games, the Bengals appeared on the verge of a major upset of the Super Bowl champs, driving to the 4-yard line before wasting too much time between plays and having to settle for a field goal to force overtime.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who tied for the league lead with 112 receptions last season, had 12 catches for 146 yards and a touchdown against New York. Carson Palmer, who was dreadful in the first two games, finished 27-of-39 for 286 yards and his first touchdown pass of the season.
The teams split the season series in 2007, which included a wild 51-45 shootout won by the Browns in Week Two.
From the Bleachers
-
CLEVELAND: 20
CINCINNATI: 12
Final
Sep 28 4:00 PM -
NFL
FG CLE
PHIL DAWSON 29 YD
CLEVELAND 20
CINCINNATI 12 0:32 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Sep 28 3:56 PM -
NFL
TD CIN
CHAD JOHNSON 4 YD PASS FROM RYAN FITZPATRICK
(TWO-POINT PASS CONVERSION FAILED)
CLEVELAND 17
CINCINNATI 12 7:46 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Sep 28 3:38 PM -
NFL
TD CLE
JAMAL LEWIS 1 YD RUN
(PHIL DAWSON KICK)
CLEVELAND 17
CINCINNATI 6 11:06 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Sep 28 3:28 PM -
NFL
TD CLE
BRAYLON EDWARDS 4 YD PASS FROM DEREK ANDERSON
(PHIL DAWSON KICK)
CLEVELAND 10
CINCINNATI 6 13:05 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Sep 28 3:19 PM -
CLEVELAND: 3
CINCINNATI: 6
End of 3rd
Sep 28 3:10 PM -
CLEVELAND: 3
CINCINNATI: 6
Halftime
Sep 28 2:25 PM -
NFL
FG CIN
SHAYNE GRAHAM 46 YD
CLEVELAND 3
CINCINNATI 6 0:08 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Sep 28 2:18 PM -
NFL
FG CIN
SHAYNE GRAHAM 42 YD
CLEVELAND 3
CINCINNATI 3 10:22 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Sep 28 1:44 PM -
CLEVELAND: 3
CINCINNATI: 0
End of 1st
Sep 28 1:34 PM -
NFL
FG CLE
PHIL DAWSON 25 YD
CLEVELAND 3
CINCINNATI 0 9:32 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Sep 28 1:11 PM
