Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer offers the Browns defense some scoring opportunities.
View full sizeJoe Haden1. The new turnover machine
Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer has thrown 26 touchdowns -- 21 to his teammates and five to the opposition. Yes, that's five pick-sixes Palmer has authored. Five interceptions returned for touchdowns. Eighteen interceptions total. The Browns have had 14 interceptions in their past seven games. It would be fun to watch Joe Haden get one of these and execute a TD celebration he's had in his mind for some time.
2. Fresh legs
Pass rush has been the bane of the Bengals' defense. But lately they've received some energy from rookies Carlos Dunlap (outside) and Geno Atkins (inside). They helped to provide a fairly sound beating on Ben Roethlisberger last week. Colt McCoy will need to have complete mobility in his first game back from a high ankle sprain to avoid a similar fate.
3. Hold on, Peyton
Peyton Hillis' fumbles should not mar the fantastic year he's had. Without his hard, dependable running, the Browns might be 2-11 instead of 5-8. My guess is his three fumbles against Buffalo were flukes and not a sign of things to come. The Bengals aren't known as ball hawks. But neither were the Bills.
4. Phil's the man
I mistakenly wrote the other day that Eric Steinbach has appeared in more Browns-Bengals games than any Brown. This is a correction. Kicker Phil Dawson will appear in his 22nd Battle of Ohio today. Steinbach will be playing his 16th, including eight with the Bengals. Dawson is 28-of-31 in field goals against Cincinnati, but his shining moment may have come in his first game against them in 1999 when he scooted 4 yards for a TD on a fake field goal. I don't know if we've seen one of those since.