Brandon Allen will start at QB for the Bengals. Allen started five games last season after Joe Burrow was lost to an ACL injury. He completed 63.4 percent of his passes, averaging for 6.5 yards per attempt, and threw five TD passes and four interceptions. I’m expecting some improvement from those numbers. Baker Mayfield is out for the Browns, and there is a five-point drop-off from Burrow to Allen and two points from Mayfield to Keenum. But these teams are going in opposite directions. Cleveland has lost three straight and is 2-5 ATS in its last seven games, while Cincinnati is 5-2 SU and ATS over its last seven. The Browns will be golfing or lounging on a beach somewhere next week, while the Bengals will be in the playoffs. The Bengals also have same season home revenge from a 41-16 beat down by the Browns on 11/7.

With Joe Burrow out, the Bengals offense will be in trouble in the season finale in Cleveland. The Bengals showed last season just how ill-prepared they are if they need to turn to their backup quarterback. Brandon Allen will start Sunday, and he averaged 185 passing yards in five starts a season ago. Look for the Browns to finish off their season properly, even without Baker Mayfield.

Earlier today, I took the Under 41 points in this game because of no Baker Mayfield and that the weather looked lousy Sunday in C-Town. Now comes word that the Bengals will be without Joe Mixon (COVID) and Joe Burrow (rest), which means Cincy is clearly just waiving the white flag and resting up for wild-card weekend. I'd imagine this spread changes but it's not like the Browns care, either. I'll just take the home team in what is basically a Replacement game.

Baker Mayfield will not play for Cleveland, and I tend to doubt whether Joe Burrow plays all that much if at all for Cincinnati as it's very unlikely the team can get the AFC's top seed. In fact, if the Chiefs win Saturday, which they should, the Bengals can't get it. The team already will be without Joe Mixon as he tested positive for COVID. Weather is going to be a factor as well. Here's the forecast: Rain showers, with increasing winds in the afternoon. Snow may mix in. Morning high of 43F with temps falling to near freezing. Winds WSW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 60%.

The Bengals have playoff seeding to play for. The Browns? Nothing. They will wrap up the season without QB Baker Mayfield (shoulder) and with little rest, having played Monday on the road. The better QB in Ohio, by far, has become Joe Burrow, who has amassed nearly 1,000 passing yards and eight touchdowns in the past two weeks. Cincinnati has knocked off three formidable foes in a row and fell in overtime in its previous outing. The Bengals want to avenge their worst beating of the season, a 41-16 setback at Cleveland in Week 9.