Browns vs. Bengals | Week 16: Predictions, Odds & Best Bets

We’re closing in on the end of the season and it’s definitely a little sad. We’ve had so many big games this year, so many big moments; the fact that it’s already Week 16 doesn’t feel right. This week we’ve got teams clawing at playoff spots, desperately trying to keep their playoff hopes alive.

One of those teams is active in this one, the Cincinnati Bengals. Some how, some way the Bengals hope for the post-season is still alive. We’ll get into the exact scenario and what they need to happen, but more than anything else, they cannot afford to lose.

Here are our best bets for the Browns vs. Bengals

• Tee Higgins Anytime Touchdown (+112)
• Jerome Ford o18.5 Receiving Yards (-110)

Browns vs. Bengals  Game Information

Matchup Information

• Location: Paycor Stadium; Cincinnati, Ohio
• Date: Sunday, December 22nd, 2024
• Kickoff: 1:00 PM EST

Quarterback Matchup

• Cleveland Browns: Jameis Winston (2-5; 2024 – 291.1 YPG | 12 TD | 12 INT)
• Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow (6-8; 2024 – 284.1 YPG | 36 TD | 8 INT)

Betting Odds

Odds via BetOnline, an industry leader in the sports betting world.

Spread

• Cleveland Browns +9(-110)
• Cincinnati Bengals -9 (-110)

Money Line

• Cleveland Browns (+450)
• Cincinnati Bengals (-350)

Total

• Over 46.5 (-110)
• Under 46.5 (-110)

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Browns vs. Bengals Analysis & Breakdown

The Bengals can’t afford to lose a single game. Their last 3 games of the season come against the Cleveland Browns (this week), the Denver Broncos and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Broncos are one of the other teams competing for that exact same spot in the post-season.

Not only can they not afford to lose, but they’ll need both the Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts to both lose at least one more game. The Colts have a pretty easy schedule but the Dolphins have the Niners this week, then finish the on the road in Cleveland and New York to face the Jets.

The Broncos lost their Week 16 matchup against the Chargers, dropping them to 9-6 on the year and preventing them from locking up their own playoff spot. The Broncos host the Bengals next week and finish the season with the reining champs in town, the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Chargers completed the sweep of the Broncos on Thursday Night Football, and with it made sure they’ll finish above the Broncos this year. They finish the year on the road against the Patriots and the Raiders. Feels safe to say, it’s the Broncos’ playoff spot to lose.

Spoiler Alert

The Browns aren’t playing for much this week. Their season’s over, as they look to the draft, but knowing Jameis Winston and this Browns’ team, they’re keen to play spoiler.

Winston’s recorded double the amount of wins that his predecessor did this year, winning 2 of his 7 starts this year. Jaboo‘s averaging 291.1 pass yards per game, he’s thrown 12 touchdowns but he’s also thrown 12 interceptions. The Browns have looked so much better with Winston under center, but their schedule has been relentless.

Over their L7 games, the Browns have played: the Chiefs, the Steelers (twice), the Broncos, the Chargers, the Ravens, and the Saints. Six of the seven teams currently have 9 or more wins, sit 3 games above 0.500 and are in the hunt for the post-season.

Jameis has had a tough road, but he shows up with energy every single week. The Bengals will be just the 2nd time he’s facing a team with a losing record, and he’ll be playing in his 3rd divisional game. Winston is currently 2-1 against the AFC North, with wins against both the Steelers and Ravens.

This Bengals team has been terrible on the defensive side, giving up 27.6 PPG (31st), allowing opponents to convert on almost 70% of their red zone drives (31st). It’s a big day in the AFC North, let’s get into my favorite props in this one.

Tee Higgins Anytime Touchdown (+112)

The premise is simple, the Bengals can’t afford to lose and Joe Burrow has 36 passing touchdowns on the year. Despite his team having won just 6 of their 14 games this year, he leads the NFL in passing touchdowns, pass yards and completions. If his defense was even remotely good, he’d be in the conversation for Most Valuable Player.

The Bengals rank 31st in points allowed, 31st in opponent red zone efficiency, 27th in opponent 3rd down conversion rate and 30th in first downs allowed. They give up a lot of points so the offense needs to score even more if they hope to win.

In just 9 games this year, Tee Higgins ranks 2nd on the Bengals in total targets this year, 2nd in red zone targets and he’s scored a touchdown in 5 of his L7 games.

Not only does Tee sit 2nd in red zone targets for the Bengals, but despite just 9 total games, he ranks 9th in total red zone targets among all WRs. He’s got more red zone targets than Tyreek Hill, Deebo Samuel, Mike Evans, and even Terry McLaurin.

Cleveland ranks 27th in touchdowns allowed this year and 31st against WRs. They’ve let 6 of the L9 WR2‘s they’ve faced get in for six, names like Devonta Smith, Quentin Johnson, Xavier Worthy and even TEE HIGGINS.

Tee Higgins Anytime Touchdown (+112) via BetOnline

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Jerome Ford o18.5 Receiving Yards

No long-winded explanation for this one. If Jameis Winston is really sitting this one out, we’re getting Dorian Thompson-Robinson and this guy still hasn’t thrown for 200 yards in a single game. He’s got just 3 career starts under his belt, going 1-2 last year and averaging just 140.0 pass yards per game with just 1 touchdown but 4 interceptions.

This year he was the first to come in for Deshaun Watson but the Browns quickly realized he wasn’t the right choice. Winston came in, threw a touchdown to finish the game and got the starting job. With him now on the sideline, DTR is in for a tough game.

I’m betting on the fact that with a new QB, a guy who we know has struggled to complete passes and make big plays, I’m expecting him to rely on the checkdown quite heavily. In Thompson-Robinson’s 3 starts last year, Ford finished with 18 total targets, 11 receptions and cleared this receiving yard line just once.

The Bengals rank 26th in receiving yards allowed this year and Ford has torched bad pass defenses all year. In his L5 games against bottom-10 pass defenses, Ford’s cleared this line in 4 of 5 games, averaging 21.5 receiving yards per game.

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Jerome Ford o18.5 Receiving Yards (-110 ) via BetOnline

Get 50% up to $1,000 on your NFL picks today at BetOnline

To Recap, NFL Bets for December 22nd, 2024:

In the Browns vs. Bengals game on Sunday, we’re rolling with 2 props. Jerome Ford o18.5 Receiving Yards (-110), & Tee Higgins Anytime Touchdown (+112); both via BetOnline

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