Browns LB on Bengals: ‘Knew what was coming’

Karlos Dansby was high-fiving Browns fans after beating the Bengals. (USATSI)

If you're wondering how Cleveland's defense was able to shut down the Bengals offense on Thursday, Browns linebacker Karlos Dansby has an explanation: The Browns knew what the Bengals were going to do.

Following Cleveland's 24-3 win, Dansby said the Browns defense saw everything coming.

"We knew what was coming, so we were all over it," Dansby said, via the Akron Beacon Journal. "We were dialed in. We knew exactly what they wanted to do, how they wanted to do it, when they wanted to do it. We're calling out screens. We're calling out run plays. We're calling out everything right there on the field."

Dansby said the Browns defense knew what was coming even when Andy Dalton would call an audible.

"When he audibled, we knew exactly what he audibled to," Dansby said. "We put time in. It's preparation. We're watching film. We're on it. We're dialed in. We're studying, and we're making sure that we're on point."

The Browns defense was definitely on point against Cincinnati, holding Dalton to a 2.0 passer rating. That's two point zero. Dalton was so bad, that you could probably make the argument that it was the worst game ever played by someone who threw 30 or more passes -- an argument Will Brinson made here. Dalton finished 10 of 33 for 86 yards and threw three interceptions.

As for Dansby's comments, they probably won't go over well with Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, who designed the Bengals predictable game plan.

Jackson now has five weeks to cook up something less predictable before the Bengals and Browns play again in Week 15 in Cleveland.

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Bengals RB Giovani Bernard to miss second straight game



NFL insider Adam Schefter is reporting that Cincinnati Bengals all-everything running back Giovani Bernard (hip) will be out for the team's Thursday night game with their divisional adversary, the Cleveland Browns. Head coach Marvin Lewis confirmed this to Sirius XM NFL Radio's Ross Tucker.Through the first seven games of the season, Bernard has rushed for 446 yards and five touchdowns, while adding 22 catches for 179 yards receiving. This will be Bernard's second straight missed game due to the injury. RB Jeremy Hill got the start in Bernard's stead last week, running for 154 yards and two touchdowns against a putrid Jacksonville Jaguars defense.



While this isn't a huge surprise, given the fact the Bengals are playing on a short week, it is nice to know it well in advance.With Bernard out, Hill is again a solid start this week. The Browns defense isn't as bad as Jacksonville against running backs, but are not exactly stout either. They allow 23.2 fppg to opposing running backs. Hill figures to get a heavy workload and has the skills to make the most of it. Consider him a solid RB1 play for Week 10.