Cincinnati @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 25, 2018 ) Cleveland 35, Cincinnati 20

The Cleveland Browns have come a long way in short time, as they have gone from a winless 2017 campaign to a team that still has an outside chance at the playoffs entering Week 16. Cleveland hopes to have the chance to keep its slim hopes alive when it hosts the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

The Browns, who also are seeking their first three-game winning streak of the year and a sweep of the season series against their in-state rivals, needs Baltimore to lose to the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday in order to entertain any thoughts of the postseason when they take the field. Regardless, they enter the matchup having won four of their last five contests, including last week's 17-16 triumph in Denver. Cleveland's current surge includes a 35-20 victory at Cincinnati in Week 12 that ended its seven-game losing streak in the all-time series. The Bengals halted their five-game slide last week, defeating visiting Oakland 30-16 for their first win since Week 8.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Browns -9.5. O/U: 44.5

ABOUT THE BENGALS (6-8): Joe Mixon hopes for a repeat performance after rushing for 129 yards and two touchdowns against the Raiders last week. It was the second career multi-TD effort by the 22-year-old, who recorded 155 scrimmage yards and a personal-best seven receptions in Cincinnati's first meeting with Cleveland this year. Defensive end Sam Hubbard registered the first multi-sack performance of his rookie season last week with a pair after notching four over his first 13 games.

ABOUT THE BROWNS (6-7-1): Baker Mayfield leads all rookies with 21 touchdown passes and needs three to pass Andrew Luck (23 in 2012) for second-most by a rookie selected first overall in the common draft era. The 23-year-old had a stellar performance in his first meeting with Cincinnati, throwing for 258 yards and a career-high four TDs without an interception as Cleveland ended its string of 25 consecutive road losses. Running back Nick Chubb is one of three rookies in the league with at least 1,000 scrimmage yards (1,010) and 10 touchdowns (10) this season.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Bengals DT Geno Atkins, who notched a career-high three sacks last week, was selected to start in his seventh Pro-Bowl appearance.

2. Cleveland DE Myles Garrett and CB Denzel Ward were named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in their careers, with the former earning the start.

3. Cincinnati placed Malik Jefferson (toe) on injured reserve and promoted fellow LB Chris Worley from the practice squad.

PREDICTION: Browns 24, Bengals 20