The Browns really thought that this would be the year that their end of season story changed, but alas, here we are again: a meaningless Week 17 game that they’re better off losing. The Browns could pick as early as 10^th, or as late as 18^th, depending on other results around the league. The Bengals have already clinched the No. 1 pick in April’s draft.

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This is a rematch of Week 14, when the Browns won 27-19 to keep their then-narrow playoff hopes alive. The Browns came away victorious, but they gave up 451 yards, including Joe Mixon’s 146 on the ground. Nick Chubb was the only Brown with an impressive box score, racking up 106 yards of his own.

The Browns have been highly erratic this season on both sides of the ball. They’ve scored 40 points twice, but also been held to 13 or fewer five times. They held two offenses to single-digit points, and allowed two to top 38. Baker Mayfield has as many games with a QB Rating above 100 (3) as he does below 55. While the inconsistencies have been a season-long theme, the defense has taken a notable turn for the worse since the Myles Garrett suspension. In the four games since, despite an easier schedule, the defense has allowed an extra 3.6 points and 54.8 yards per game.

The Bengals remain one of the worst defenses in the league, ranking 30^th in yards allowed and defensive DVOA. Their offense has made some gradual improvements through the season, especially as they’ve expanded Mixon’s role, but they remain towards the bottom of the league in most metrics.

All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.

Browns at Bengals

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Bengals +3
Total Points: 44.5
Money Line: Bengals +138; Browns -157

Records

Overall: Browns 1-14; Bengals 6-9
ATS: Browns 5-9-1; Bengals 5-10
O/U: Browns 7-8; Bengals 6-9

Injury report

Brownse

Players to watch: TE Ricky Seals-Jones (illness), WR Odell Beckham (groin), WR Khadarel Hodge (neck), T Christopher Hubbard (knee), T Kendall Lamm (knee), WR Jarvis Landry (hip), DT Sheldon Richardson (back), C J.C. Tretter (knee), DE Olivier Vernon (knee), S Damarious Randall (foot)

Bengals

Players to watch: DT Geno Atkins (not injury related), CB Darqueze Dennard (knee), TE Tyler Eifert (not injury related), CB William Jackson (shoulder), WR Stanley Morgan (concussion), CB Tony McRae (concussion), G John Miller (concussion)

Betting Trends

• The Browns have won each of their last three games against the Bengals.
• The Bengals have failed to cover the spread in each of their last four home games against NFC North opponents.
• Each of the Bengals’ last three games have gone over the total points line.

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Odds and lines subject to change. See website for details.