Browns, Quinn ready for Battle of Ohio

11.28.2009

CINCINNATI - For Brady Quinn and the Browns, it's a chance to build on the season's best offensive performance and do something the Browns have done before: derail the Bengals' playoff push.

For the 7-3, first-place Bengals, it's a big game in a season full of games that will only get bigger if the wins keep coming.

Kickoff at sold out Paul Brown Stadium is at 1 p.m.

This is Quinn's first start against the Bengals and his first chance to play against Bengals safety Chinedum Ndukwe, Quinn's longtime friend, top passing target in high school and teammate/roommate at Notre Dame.

That gives this one special meaning to Quinn, who threw four TD passes to four different receivers last week and posted another career high with his first 400-yard game.

"(Ndukwe) is a good guy and a great player," Quinn said. "To be on opposing teams in the same division, it's crazy that it's taken three years to be able to play against one another. But I'm excited about the opportunity and looking forward to seeing him."

Quinn will oppose a Bengals defense that ranks 10th in the league and second against the run, often putting opposing quarterbacks in difficult positions. But the Bengals saw Quinn's big game this week and are expecting to see a confident quarterback Sunday.

"He's trying to be very quick with the football and he's done a nice job with that," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "When you sit and watch as a quarterback you get a different perspective and sometimes a good perspective. Sometimes there's a growth and maturity. We're benefitting this year from Carson (Palmer) having to sit and watch last year and I see that in Brady."

Palmer has been sharp, completing 62 percent of his passes for the season. Chad Ochocinco is his top target and burned the Browns for a pair of touchdowns in the Bengals' overtime win in early October.

"Chad didn't have a lot of yards against us, but like he usually does, he had impact plays," Browns head coach Eric Mangini said. "He had two touchdowns. You only have to be wrong on him a couple times and he kills you. He has great hands, very good intensity. The margin of error for a guy like him or Calvin Johnson, it's so small that you drop off a little bit and it kills you."

The Bengals list running back Cedric Benson as questionable with a hip injury; he didn't play in last week's loss to the Raiders. Benson has 859 yards and 6 touchdowns on the year. If he can't go, rookie Bernard Scott will likely make his second straight start with Larry Johnson and Brian Leonard also getting work.

Listed as questionable for the Browns are Shaun Rogers, Lawrence Vickers, Rex Hadnot, Blake Costanzo, Robert Royal and Greg Estandia.