By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Bengals would have seen a different Browns team in Cleveland today had the Browns not won last week at San Francisco.

"It certainly helps the spirits and the attitude," Browns coach Butch Davis said of the difference between being 0-3 and 1-2.

The Browns are 1-2 and trying to get back into the AFC North race. The 0-3 Bengals are just trying to get a victory to prevent the season from slipping away early. The Bengals will try to avoid their fourth 0-4 start in the past five seasons.

They will face former UK star Tim Couch at quarterback. Kelly Holcomb suffered leg injuries against the 49ers and could not practice this past week.

The Browns have won three in a row against the Bengals.

QUARTERBACK

Jon Kitna has done what he could not afford to do - make a big mistake in each of the first three games. Two interceptions were returned for touchdowns, and one killed the opening drive against the Steelers.

Couch has 10 touchdowns and a 3-3 starting record against the Bengals. He insists he won't be trying to win back his starting job with each throw. Human nature says otherwise, which helps the Bengals.

Edge: Bengals

RUNNING BACKS

Corey Dillon says the injuries that took him out of the second half in each of the last two games were flukes. Whatever the cause, the Bengals must have a healthy, productive Dillon to win.

Browns tailback William Green kick-started his career last year against the Bengals. They can't let Green and the league's 27th-ranked rush offense get going today. The Browns are No. 31 in total offense.

Edge: Bengals

RECEIVERS/TIGHT END

The Bengals continue to gamble by carrying just two veteran wide receivers. Chad Johnson and Peter Warrick have been outstanding with 34 receptions, 464 yards and three TDs combined.

The Bengals have two good wide receivers; the Browns have at least four, and they are talented and comfortable with Couch. Andre Davis makes big plays, and Kevin Johnson makes every play.

Edge: Browns

OFFENSIVE LINE

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said Friday the line is thinking less and attacking more. That will only help a unit that has allowed 10 sacks - only Kitna's scrambling ability has kept that number down.

The season-ending loss of left tackle Ross Verba weakened the Browns' line. Bengals defensive end Justin Smith against transplanted guard Barry Stokes at left tackle should be a mismatch.

Edge: Even

DEFENSIVE LINE

The Bengals front four is better and deeper, but opponents' rushing average of 152 yards suggests there are problems. The group has to stop Green, and Smith and Duane Clemons have to get to Couch.

The Bengals like to run right, and that is into the strength of the Browns' defensive line - end Courtney Brown and tackle Gerard Warren.

Edge: Browns

LINEBACKERS

Bengals linebackers have to share much of the blame for the defense's inability to stop the run. Dropping them in pass coverage has worked. Kevin Hardy, in particular, has to key on Green all day.

Take away Jamal Lewis' five long runs in his record 295-yard game, and away goes 25 percent of the total yards given up by the Browns. They're allowing an average of 18 points and have given up no TDs twice.

Edge: Browns

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Each secondary has played well this season. The Bengals are fourth against the pass (150 yards) and the Browns third (148). Each team has four interceptions.

The Bengals' Tory James and the Browns' Anthony Henry are two CBs to watch. They're both breaking up a lot of passes.

Edge: Browns

SPECIAL TEAMS

The Browns have one of the best kickers (Phil Dawson) and punters (Chris Gardocki) in the league. The Browns are capable of producing big plays in the kicking game.

The Bengals are getting better on special teams. Lewis might want to let kicker Shayne Graham test his range. Today's game looks to be low-scoring, so every point will be crucial.

Edge: Browns

COACHING

Davis keeps his team in the game into the fourth quarter. Lewis' Bengals are outscoring opponents 21-16 in the fourth quarter. Last year, the Bengals were outscored 94-77 in the final frame. Lewis' team is in shape and plays hard.

Davis' team is playoff-tested and has shown it can win close games. And until the Bengals win a game, it's next to impossible to pick them.

Edge: Browns

• CURNUTTE'S PREDICTION: Browns 17, Bengals 13

On today's game

"We don't have to validate anything. What we need to do is to win to just get guys in our locker room feeling good and get out of this kind of a cloud that's hanging over us now."

-Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna

By the numbers

7-10 - Butch Davis' home record with the Browns

8 and 0 - Times opponents have been inside the Browns' 20-yard line and times opposing offenses have scored touchdowns

7 - Bengals' trips inside the red zone, resulting in 3 TDs, 3 FGs, 1 INT

159.3 - Corey Dillon's average yards rushing in four victories over Browns

76 - Dillon's average rushing yards in four losses to the Browns

Series history

•  Today's game is the 60th meeting in the "Battle of Ohio."

•  The Cleveland Browns lead the series 31-28.

•  The Browns lead 19-10 at home.

•  The Bengals have lost three in a row in the series and are 4-4 since the "new" Browns returned as an expansion team in 1999.

•  Paul Brown founded both teams and was each team's first coach.

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