Cleveland Browns-Cincinnati Bengals NFL Week 10 Thursday Game Preview

An AFC North Division battle will kick off Week 10 in the NFL on Thursday night, as Cincinnati hosts Cleveland with first place in the division on the line.

Earning a division win will be vital as all four teams in the AFC North – the Baltimore Ravens (5-4), the Cincinnati Bengals (5-2-1), the Cleveland Browns (5-3), and the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3) – have winning records. Only four times previously has a division had all four teams with winning records this late in a season since realignment in 2002.

Cincinnati enters Week 10 looking for its third consecutive victory following a 33-23 win against Jacksonville.

“We’re a savvy group and we overcame some adversity against the Jaguars to win,” said Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis. “We’ll take a look at it, and get everything fixed because we have a tough division game on Thursday. We are definitely looking forward to Thursday night.”

In the win, rookie running back Jeremy Hill (Round 2, No. 55 overall) rushed for a career-high 154 yards on 24 carries and two touchdowns. Hill joined Corey Dillon as the only rookies in franchise history with at least 150 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in a game. Hill is third among rookies with 349 rushing yards and leads all rookies with five rushing touchdowns this season.

“A big win at home,” said Hill.  “It keeps us on top of the division. It’s a blessing.”

The Bengals are 13-0-1 in their past 14 regular-season home games. During that span, quarterback Andy Dalton has passed for 3,385 yards with 26 touchdowns and a 95.4 passer rating.

Cleveland enters Thursday night also coming off of two consecutive victories. In Week 9, the Browns defeated Tampa Bay 22-17 for their fourth win in five weeks. With five wins on the season, Cleveland has already exceeded its win total of 2013.

Browns' quarterback Brian Hoyer threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Taylor Gabriel in the fourth quarter for the decisive points in last week’s victory.

Hoyer heads into his 12th start with the Browns and aims for his ninth consecutive game with at least 200 passing yards. As a starter in Cleveland, Hoyer has led the team to an 8-3 record with 2,629 passing yards and 15 touchdowns for an 88.2 passer rating. In his only career start against Cincinnati last season, Hoyer passed for 269 yards with two touchdowns for a 103.9 passer rating on the way to a 17-6 victory over the Bengals.

“It’s going to be exciting,” said safety Tashaun Gipson. “It’s going to be really exciting to be playing on Thursday night, showing everyone what the new Cleveland Browns look like.”

Gipson secured his league-leading sixth interception against the Buccaneers on Sunday and leads a defensive unit that has forced 13 takeaways this season, helping Cleveland tie for fourth in the AFC with a +6 turnover differential. Since 2013, Gipson also leads all NFL players with 11 interceptions.


WEEK 10 INJURY REPORT – CLEVELAND at CINCINNATI


CLEVELAND BROWNS

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Monday
S Johnson Bademosi (concussion), TE Jordan Cameron (concussion), WR Andrew Hawkins (thigh, knee), DE Phillip Taylor (knee)

Tuesday
S Johnson Bademosi (concussion), TE Jordan Cameron (concussion), WR Andrew Hawkins (thigh, knee)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Monday
DE Billy Winn (toe)

Tuesday
DE Phillip Taylor (knee), DE Billy Winn (toe)


FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Monday
DE Desmond Bryant (wrist), WR Taylor Gabriel (shoulder), QB Brian Hoyer (glute), LB Barkevious Mingo (shoulder), WR Rodney Smith (hamstring)

Tuesday
DE Desmond Bryant (wrist), WR Taylor Gabriel (shoulder), QB Brian Hoyer (glute), LB Barkevious Mingo (shoulder), WR Rodney Smith (hamstring)


CINCINNATI BENGALS

OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)

Monday
LB Vontaze Burfict (knee)

Tuesday
LB Vontaze Burfict (knee)


DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Monday
RB Giovani Bernard (hip), CB Leon Hall (concussion), LB Rey Maualuga (hamstring), T Andre Smith (ankle)

Tuesday
RB Giovani Bernard (hip), DE Robert Geathers (shoulder), TE Jermaine Gresham (knee), CB Leon Hall (concussion), LB Rey Maualuga (hamstring), CB Terence Newman (chest), T Andre Smith (ankle)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Monday
CB Darqueze Dennard (hamstring), DE Robert Geathers (shoulder), CB Terence Newman (chest)


FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Monday
G Kevin Zeitler (calf)

Tuesday
CB Darqueze Dennard (hamstring), G Kevin Zeitler (calf)


By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services