The NFL Turns Orange For Halloween on ‘Monday Night Football’

Posted on: October 31, 2022, 07:01h. 

Last updated on: October 31, 2022, 04:25h.

Erik Gibbs Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Gaming Business, Global Gaming.

Things are going to be spooky in Ohio tonight, but not because it’s Halloween. The NFL’s Monday Night Football features an orange Ohio showdown, with the Cleveland Browns facing the Cincinnati Bengals.

Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) makes a play in the team’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. The Bengals face the Cleveland Browns today in an NFL Ohio matchup. (Image: Associated Press/Jeff Dean)

The Browns (2-5) and Bengals (4-3) square off on the Browns’ turf at FirstEnergy Stadium. It’s the first of two meetings between these AFC North rivals before they meet once again in Week 14 in Cincinnati.

Last year, Cleveland swept Cincinnati, winning 41-16 on the road and 21-16 at home. However, things aren’t going so well for the Browns this year.

Browns Look For Redemption

Cincinnati put up 537 yards of total offense in a 35-17 home win over the Atlanta Falcons last week. The Bengals had to take a stand late in the game in order to pull it off, but showed that they have come a long way.

  Cincinatti Bengals Cleveland Browns
Moneyline -175 +145
Spread -3.5 (-105) +3.5 (+115)
Over/under O45 (-110) U45 (-110)
  Courtesy of BetMGM  

The Bengals took a 28-7 lead with less than a minute left in the second quarter before the Falcons scored a quick 10 points. But they wouldn’t get any closer, as Cincinnati QB Joe Burrow finished the game with 481 passing yards and three touchdowns. He added one rushing TD of his own just to leave his mark.

Bengals receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tyler Boyd topped 100 receiving yards, picking up 130 and 155, respectively. The defense did its part by holding Atlanta to an average of just four rushing yards per play, although it had a little difficulty with the Falcons’ aerial attack.

Meanwhile, things haven’t gone well for Cleveland, which has now lost four in a row. Last week, it was a 23-20 setback against the current AFC North leaders, the Baltimore Ravens, on the road. The loss came even as the Browns outscored the Ravens by 82 yards.

The problem was a pair of lost fumbles coupled with five sacks. Cleveland also allowed Baltimore to control the clock, with the Ravens holding the ball for around two-thirds of the minutes.

Burrow Gets Warmed Up

Cincinnati received a little bit of bad news last week when it revealed that Ja’Marr Chase will miss 4-6 weeks with a hip injury. However, this shouldn’t be too much for the Bengals to overcome.

Burrow has been hot of late, with 781 passing yards, six TDs and no interceptions in his last two games alone. He also scored twice on the ground during that span. However, with Chase out, he will have to rely heavily on Joe Mixon.

The Bengals’ versatile running back finished third in the NFL last season with 1,205 rushing yards. He’s off to a slow start so far this year, and will now have to step things up.

Overall, the Browns have beaten the Bengals four times in a row, as well as seven of the last eight meetings. However, that was then, and this is now.

The Browns have lost four in a row this season and average only 24 points a game. Sports bettors should expect the game to go over, as the Bengals offense puts up the points and the Browns defense allows it.