Cleveland Browns want to knock the dynamic out of Cincinnati Bengals duo

The Browns don't plan on letting Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens have their Dynamic Duo coming out party today at the Stadium.

CINCINNATI, Ohio — The Browns are determined not to let today's game against the Bengals become the season debut of "The Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens End Zone Extravaganza."

"Of course they're going to go after us," Browns defensive back Mike Adams said. "Why wouldn't they after seeing what the Ravens did to us last week? But we're thinking something, too. If they're going to step up their game, we have to step up ours twice as much. We're not going to shy away from anybody. We're going to bounce back from last week and have a good game."

The Browns believe cornerback Eric Wright, who gave up three touchdowns to Baltimore's Anquan Boldin, will rebound today against the six-time Pro Bowl receivers. He figures to see plenty of Owens today.

"He's a tremendous player and competitor," defensive coordinator Rob Ryan said. "Of course, it's not all [Wright's] fault, obviously. [Joe] Flacco made a couple of unbelievable throws. But [Wright's] a great player and he's going to bounce back in a big way this week."

The Bengals are 2-1, but their offense is mired in a slump. In a victory last week over Carolina, Carson Palmer -- who's 8-2 against the Browns -- threw two interceptions and had several others dropped.

Aside from a strong second half against New England in the opener, the Bengals have scored only two touchdowns in their other 10 quarters. Ochocinco has caught one TD pass and Owens none. But the Browns aren't fooled.

"They're a great football team," Ryan said. "Last week when we played Baltimore it was like, 'Yeah, they're just OK.' No, they're going to be a top-five offense. These guys are outstanding. We're going to get after them and play our best. Our guys are definitely ready to do that. They've got all these weapons, but eventually they can only get it to one guy. Hopefully we can cause enough problems that maybe they'll start [yelling] at each other on the sideline."

Owens, who has 14 catches for 152 yards, called out the Bengals' offensive line this week, which couldn't have played too well in the locker room.

"I've been open on a number of routes, and for whatever reason, there's always been some kind of breakdown with protection, or Carson has to come out of the pocket, or he's rushed," Owens told Cincinnati reporters. "I'm not going to gripe. The most important thing, as I've alluded to here, is we're winning. If we were losing, then I would definitely have a lot to say."

Owens, a 15-year pro, has 21 career catches for 330 yards and three TDs against the Browns, and Ochocinco, a 10-year pro, has 82 career catches for 1,133 yards and 11 TDs against the Browns -- his most TDs against any opponent.

"That Ochocinco is phenomenal," Ryan said. "Whatever name he goes by, he really is a phenomenal player. [He] gets faster and better each year, in my opinion. The guy is just tremendous. Of course, T.O. out there is just a freak. He's just a big freak out there and he makes a lot of plays."

Palmer agrees that Ochocinco has stepped up his game.

"He looks as good now as he did in 2003, 2004, 2005, whenever he was leading the AFC [in yards]," Palmer said. "Bringing Terrell in has really catapulted his game to another level that not many receivers can get to."

Will the two veteran receivers be too much for the Browns' rookie defensive backs, cornerback Joe Haden and safety T.J. Ward?

"No, [they're] smart guys and they're both competitors," Ryan said. "The big thing with those two great receivers is, besides all of the stuff they do in being the veterans and all that, is they are ultimate competitors, too. They'll fight like crazy for that football and we're going to have to do a great job of covering.

"Our guys have been challenging more than they ever have in practice. We're fighting for that ball and not giving up anything. Whatever we can do to finish, we're doing it as a team. It's our responsibility on defense to win, and that's what we plan on doing."

Haden, who hasn't cracked the starting lineup but will play plenty in sub-defenses today, respects the Bengals' top two receivers, but isn't awed.

"I like the challenge," Haden said. "Chad is one of the best receivers in the league. We know they do a lot of talking out there, but so do I and T.J. is one of the biggest talkers I've ever met. Once we start playing, it's all football."

Ryan said he will stick with his all-out blitzing style despite getting beat on it again last week in Baltimore, on Boldin's 27-yard game-winning catch.

"When you max pressure, someone's band is going to play," he said. "Unfortunately, we've heard their music a couple of times. It doesn't mean I'm going to turn into a wimp all of a sudden. We've just got to be smart about it. The biggest thing with Carson Palmer is he's got a quick release, obviously, he's very intelligent, and he's a great competitor."

Despite all of that, Ryan fully expects to prevail.

"We don't intend to lose again," he said. "We're tired of it, sick of it. To [heck] with that, anybody can lose. It's time to win. We don't care what they've got, it's all about us."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: mcabot@plaind.com, 216-999-4670