Joe Burrow Aims for Sweep as Bengals Chase Season-Ending Three-Game Streak
The Cincinnati Bengals are gearing up for their season finale against the Cleveland Browns, scheduled for Sunday, January 4, at 1 p.m. ET. With a chance to finish with a 7-10 overall record and a 4-2 mark within the AFC North, the Bengals are eager to cap off their season on a high note.
Recent Momentum
Despite being eliminated from playoff contention for the third consecutive year, Cincinnati has found a resurgence, winning back-to-back games. Head coach Zac Taylor announced that quarterback Joe Burrow will take the field for the finale, where the Bengals are looking to achieve a season sweep of the Browns after having done so last year.
Burrow’s performance against Cleveland has been a mixed bag; he holds a 4-6 record in ten matchups against the Browns but has won three straight starts against them. The Bengals are currently 6-10 following a decisive 37-14 victory over the Arizona Cardinals, building momentum from their previous win against Miami. A victory on Sunday would secure a season-ending three-game winning streak, a significant boost for the team heading into the offseason.
Taylor’s Reflections on Team Resilience
“The gratifying part for me is that this team has maintained their energy through some really difficult times and really stuck together when people questioned what they were going to see from us,” Taylor remarked following the win over the Cardinals. “There should be no questioning that. This team is made of the right stuff, and that’s just the part that I focus on. We have a great group of coaches that really stuck together and kept coaching, and these players have bought into it and provided tremendous energy for us. The proof is in the pudding these last two weeks on the field.”
Taylor emphasized the importance of controlling their destiny, stating, “That’s all we can control right now is every game that’s in front of us and how we’re going to react to it, so we’ve got to do that for one more week.”
AFC North Showdown
As the Bengals prepare for their showdown with the Browns, they are not the only AFC North teams in action. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens will also clash, with the winner clinching the division title and a spot in the postseason. Baltimore is looking to secure the division for a third consecutive year.
The Bengals-Browns matchup promises to be a thrilling end to a tumultuous season, as Cincinnati seeks to finish strong and build a foundation for the future.
