{"slug":"cleveland-browns-vs-cincinnati-bengals","title":"Cleveland Browns vs Cincinnati Bengals","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cleveland-browns-vs-cincinnati-bengals","faqCount":5,"faqs":[{"question":"Why haven't the Browns won a playoff game since 1994?","answer":"The Browns have experienced persistent quarterback instability and poor roster construction at critical moments. From 1995-2020, the team cycled through 30+ starting quarterbacks, including failed experiments with Tim Couch, Brady Quinn, and Johnny Manziel. Even after roster improvements in 2020-2024, quarterback inconsistency (Baker Mayfield's regression, Deshaun Watson's underperformance relative to contract) has prevented sustained success. The 1994 playoff win represents the franchise's only victory in 30 years despite multiple competitive rosters."},{"question":"What makes Joe Burrow better than Deshaun Watson?","answer":"In 2024, Burrow posted a 94.2 passer rating with 43 passing touchdowns compared to Watson's 85.5 rating and 27 touchdowns. Burrow is playing at an MVP-caliber level with superior decision-making, chemistry with elite receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and proven playoff success (led Bengals to Super Bowl LVI after 2021 season). Watson, despite earning $55M annually, has struggled with ankle injuries, inconsistency, and off-field distractions, failing to justify his contract investment."},{"question":"Which team has the better defense?","answer":"The Cleveland Browns have the superior defense, led by Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett and strong secondary depth. In 2024, the Browns allowed 348.1 yards per game compared to Cincinnati's 361.2 yards. However, Cincinnati's defense remains adequate for an offense-first system, while the Browns rely more heavily on defensive performance to compensate for offensive inconsistency."},{"question":"Do the Bengals have a legitimate Super Bowl chance?","answer":"Yes, the Bengals have shown legitimate championship potential. They reached the Super Bowl LVI after the 2021 season, won back-to-back AFC North titles (2021-2022), and possess an elite quarterback, top-tier receiving weapons, and average 386+ yards per game. The primary vulnerability is their defense (ranked 20th in yards allowed), which must improve to win playoff games against strong teams. With Joe Burrow healthy and in his prime, the Bengals are contenders."},{"question":"Is Deshaun Watson a franchise quarterback for the Browns?","answer":"Current evidence suggests no. Watson signed a 5-year, $230M fully-guaranteed contract in 2022 that was criticized as an overpayment, but has delivered a 85.5 passer rating in 2024 with 27 touchdowns. His ankle injuries have caused inconsistency, and he has not elevated the Browns to playoff contention. At 29 years old with significant contract years remaining, Watson must demonstrate substantial improvement in 2025-2026 to validate the investment. The Browns may need to explore alternatives if Watson's inconsistency persists."}],"faqPageSchema":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cleveland-browns-vs-cincinnati-bengals#faq","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cleveland-browns-vs-cincinnati-bengals","inLanguage":"en-US","name":"Cleveland Browns vs Cincinnati Bengals — FAQ","description":"Frequently asked questions about Cleveland Browns vs Cincinnati Bengals","dateModified":"2026-07-08T03:50:04.123Z","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"},"isPartOf":{"@type":"Article","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cleveland-browns-vs-cincinnati-bengals#article"},"license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","speakable":{"@type":"SpeakableSpecification","cssSelector":["#faq",".faq-item"]},"mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Why haven't the Browns won a playoff game since 1994?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The Browns have experienced persistent quarterback instability and poor roster construction at critical moments. From 1995-2020, the team cycled through 30+ starting quarterbacks, including failed experiments with Tim Couch, Brady Quinn, and Johnny Manziel. Even after roster improvements in 2020-2024, quarterback inconsistency (Baker Mayfield's regression, Deshaun Watson's underperformance relative to contract) has prevented sustained success. The 1994 playoff win represents the franchise's only victory in 30 years despite multiple competitive rosters.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cleveland-browns-vs-cincinnati-bengals"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What makes Joe Burrow better than Deshaun Watson?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"In 2024, Burrow posted a 94.2 passer rating with 43 passing touchdowns compared to Watson's 85.5 rating and 27 touchdowns. Burrow is playing at an MVP-caliber level with superior decision-making, chemistry with elite receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and proven playoff success (led Bengals to Super Bowl LVI after 2021 season). Watson, despite earning $55M annually, has struggled with ankle injuries, inconsistency, and off-field distractions, failing to justify his contract investment.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cleveland-browns-vs-cincinnati-bengals"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Which team has the better defense?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The Cleveland Browns have the superior defense, led by Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett and strong secondary depth. In 2024, the Browns allowed 348.1 yards per game compared to Cincinnati's 361.2 yards. However, Cincinnati's defense remains adequate for an offense-first system, while the Browns rely more heavily on defensive performance to compensate for offensive inconsistency.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cleveland-browns-vs-cincinnati-bengals"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Do the Bengals have a legitimate Super Bowl chance?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, the Bengals have shown legitimate championship potential. They reached the Super Bowl LVI after the 2021 season, won back-to-back AFC North titles (2021-2022), and possess an elite quarterback, top-tier receiving weapons, and average 386+ yards per game. The primary vulnerability is their defense (ranked 20th in yards allowed), which must improve to win playoff games against strong teams. With Joe Burrow healthy and in his prime, the Bengals are contenders.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cleveland-browns-vs-cincinnati-bengals"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Is Deshaun Watson a franchise quarterback for the Browns?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Current evidence suggests no. Watson signed a 5-year, $230M fully-guaranteed contract in 2022 that was criticized as an overpayment, but has delivered a 85.5 passer rating in 2024 with 27 touchdowns. His ankle injuries have caused inconsistency, and he has not elevated the Browns to playoff contention. At 29 years old with significant contract years remaining, Watson must demonstrate substantial improvement in 2025-2026 to validate the investment. The Browns may need to explore alternatives if Watson's inconsistency persists.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cleveland-browns-vs-cincinnati-bengals"}}]}}