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CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- The revenge factor will be in place for the
Cincinnati Bengals
when they travel across the state to take on the Cleveland Browns Sunday in a battle of AFC North rivals.
On the last week of the 2003 season, the Bengals were knocked off at home by the Browns, 22-14, ending their playoff hopes in front of a record crowd at Paul Brown Stadium. It was a disappointing end to an otherwise positive campaign in which Cincinnati reached .500 for the first time since 1996.
The Bengals have had trouble building on their success last year, dropping three of their first four and both road games in 2004. The road team has won the last three in this series, however, and Cincinnati should be well-rested after a bye.
A host of new faces make their debuts in this in-state rivalry, notably at the quarterback position.
Carson Palmer
, who has hit on less than 52 percent of his passes in his last three games, faces a Cleveland defensive unit that has allowed a league-low two touchdown passes this year.
Despite the rough start, second-year Bengals coach Marvin Lewis can find encouragement in the fact that last year's club opened up 0-3 and dropped four of its first five before getting on a roll. Its run of eight wins in 11 games included five straight victories at home, broken by the Browns in Week 17.
Cincinnati's second-half surge was keyed by a powerful passing attack that ranked 12th in the league. That was with
Jon Kitna
behind center, and with Palmer's struggles in recent weeks, the Bengals may rely more heavily on running back
Rudi Johnson
, who had a pair of touchdowns in the season-ending loss last year.
Cleveland has given up an AFC-high eight touchdowns on the ground.
Prior to his team's bye in Week Five, Johnson exploded for his finest effort of the season, rushing for 123 yards and a touchdown in a 28-17 loss to Pittsburgh. The University of Auburn product has raised his yards per carry in each game this year and has not fumbled since Week 1.
Calling signals for the Browns is
Jeff Garcia
, who has been sacked 10 times and fumbled twice in the last three games, two of them losses. It's been an up-and-down season for Garcia in Cleveland, but his play at home has been solid.
Garcia owns a 105.3 passer rating at Cleveland Browns Stadium while playing turnover-free football, leading them to a 2-0 record. On the road, he has six turnovers and has completed just 49 percent of his passes as Cleveland has gone 0-3.
Matchup to watch: Bengals receiver
Chad Johnson
lines up across left cornerback
Daylon McCutcheon
.
Series: Cleveland, 32-29-0.
Next week: Cincinnati hosts Denver, October 24. Cleveland hosts Philadelphia, October 24.
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