The Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns have a lot riding on their “Thursday Night Football” matchup.
Despite their winning records, the Bengals (5-2-1) and Browns (5-3) are trying to please disgruntled fan bases that seem to be having trouble getting over past disappointments. More than that, first place in the AFC North is on the line.
In Cincinnati, quarterback Andy Dalton is putting up career numbers without his best receivers, but he doesn’t have total support from the fans. Four hours north in Cleveland, the Browns are off to one of their best starts in years, but quarterback Brian Hoyer still was booed Sunday after a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during which he threw for 300 yards and two touchdowns.
Former NFL linebacker Rocky Boiman pegged the Browns and Bengals’ “Thursday Night Football” matchup as the Believe Bowl. If the Bengals win, they’ll keep a solid hold on first place in the division, and if the Browns win, they’ll knock down their rivals and share the lead with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
But just as important, “a Thursday night win in prime time will mean the faithful can firmly plant themselves on their respective bandwagon as the ride to the playoffs begins,” Boiman wrote in his FootballByFootball.com column Wednesday.
Click here to read Boiman’s column about what’s riding on “The Believe Bowl”>>
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