Written by Jesse Lamovsky

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Someone's gotta win this game, right?  It's amazing what three weeks have done to my expectations for the Browns.  We're still in September and they're getting 3.5 points from a winless Bengal team that could be without hot dog salesman extraordinaire Carson Palmer.  Oy vey.  Regardless, this is a chance for the Browns to get healthy.  And Jesse previews the Battle of Ohio for us in his latest column.

Time: Sunday, September 28, 1:00 PM 

Location: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati 

Network, Announcers: CBS- Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon 

Line: Bengals by three-and-a-half 

Team W/L Records: Both teams are 0-3 

Coaches: Romeo Crennel is 20-31 in his fourth season with the Browns; Marvin Lewis is 42-41 in his sixth season with the Bengals. 

Last Week for the Browns: Melted down in a catastrophic third-quarter meltdown that turned a 10-7 halftime lead into a 28-10 loss to the Ravens 

Last Week for the Ravens: Played well on the road against the Giants but were beaten in overtime, 26-23. 

All-Time Series: Bengals lead, 35-34. 

Last Meeting: December 23, 2007- The Derek Anderson meltdown game: with a playoff berth to be had with a victory, DA threw four interceptions, as the Bengals built a 19-0 halftime lead and hung on, 19-14, despite being out-gained 380-270. The Moose has yet to recover from that disaster. 

Out or Questionable for Cincinnati: Safety Dexter Jackson (thumb) is out; Safety Herana-Daze Jones (hamstring) and cornerback Jonathan Joseph (ankle) are doubtful; running back Kenny Watson (hamstring), cornerback David Jones (knee), tight end Ben Utecht (chest), and quarterback Carson Palmer (elbow) are questionable. 

Out or Questionable for Cleveland: Safety Sean Jones (knee), tight end Martin Rucker (knee), and guard Eric Steinbach (shoulder) are out; linebacker Willie McGinest (hamstring) and wide receiver Donte Stallworth (quadriceps) are doubtful; linebacker Kris Griffin (calf), guard Ryan Tucker (hip), and linebacker Kamerion Wimbley (groin) are questionable. 

What to watch for both teams: The emotional edge- I figure I'll combine this section, because both teams are pretty much in the same boat- winless and on the abyss. Last week the Bengals played tough on the road against the defending World Champions, while the Browns imploded on the road against a team coming off a five-win season and with a rookie quarterback at the helm. It doesn't get any easier for either team after this week- the Browns have a bye before facing the Giants at home on Monday Night, while the Bengals go to Dallas. With both teams facing a win-or-it's-the-season scenario, it'll be interesting to see who comes in sharper and at a higher emotional pitch. Will it be the Bengals, who at least acquitted themselves well in the Meadowlands last week? Or will it be the Browns, who seemed to hit rock-bottom in Baltimore?  

Games between two struggling teams generally comes down not to who makes the most plays, but to who makes the least amount of stupid mistakes. The team that comes in more focused and more ready will be the dog with the fewest fleas, so to speak. Last week doesn't necessarily serve as a good indicator, either- the Bengals may have a letdown after coming so close against the Giants, while the Browns may be able to circle the wagons after their awful showing against the Ravens. Either way, it's probably going to be ugly.  

Good Past Win over the Bengals: September 10, 2000- It was the opening game at Paul Brown Stadium, but the second-year Browns stole the show. Tim Couch threw for 259 yards and two touchdowns, Travis Prentice ripped off a 16-yard scoring run of his own, and Cleveland dominated the Bengals, 24-7.  

Bad Past Loss to the Bengals: November 15, 1970- Cincinnati quarterback Virgil Carter ran for 110 yards and hit Jess Phillips with a 13-yard touchdown pass at the end of a long scramble, as the Bengals came from 10-0 down to beat the Browns 14-10, their first-ever win over Cleveland. The blown lead would come back to haunt the Browns, as the Bengals wound up winning the division by just one game over Cleveland. 

Next Week for Both Teams: Cleveland is on a bye; Cincinnati goes to Dallas. 

Trivia: The latest point at which the Browns and Bengals met as winless teams came in Week 5 of the 1999 season. Cincinnati won that game 18-17.