Will Jeff Driskel Surprise NFL Fans On Sunday?
The Bengals vs Browns Betting Lines Changed After QB Announcement
After four straight wins, the Cleveland Browns can finally relax a bit. They’re sitting at 11-5 on the season and have already clinched a playoff berth behind veteran quarterback Joe Flacco. They’re in the NFL Playoffs picture.
However, Flacco and many other starters won’t be playing in their Week 18 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Instead, it’ll be veteran backup Jeff Driskel getting the start. He’s been in the league since 2016 but played in his first game in 2018 with the Bengals.
The 30-year-old quarterback hasn’t taken a snap this year but played in seven games for the Texans last season, completing 70% of passes on 20 attempts. This will be the fifth team that he’ll take a snap for in his career.
On the other hand, the Bengals have already been eliminated from the playoffs. They’ll play their guys for one final game, which is why oddsmakers have the Bengals listed as favorites at home.
The Bengals are currently -7 after Driskel was announced as the Browns’ starter. Meanwhile, the total is currently at 37.5.
Let’s break down the Bengals vs Browns betting lines for this Week 18 matchup.
Browns vs Bengals 
Location: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
Day/Time: Streaming: CBS
Bengals vs Browns Betting Lines
Cleveland bettors have been happy this season. The Browns didn’t just go 11-5 straight up, but they also went 11-5 against the spread this season.
Cleveland was 3-4 on the road and hit the Over in nine of 16 games this year.
On the other hand, the Bengals have gone 6-8-2 against the spread but hit the Over in nine of 16 games as well.
Cincinnati went 5-3 at home and will have one more home game in Week 18.
Cleveland defeated the Bengals, 24-3, back on September 10. But a lot has changed since that game. Neither Jake Browning nor Jeff Driskel were quarterbacks in that matchup.
Cleveland’s Preparing For The Playoffs
The Browns added Joe Flacco as quarterback after Deshaun Watson‘s injury, just hoping that he could bring some leadership to the team and sneak them into the playoffs.
Once Dorian Thompson-Robinson got hurt, the Browns knew Flacco was likely their only hope over P.J. Walker. So they named Flacco the starting quarterback in December.
Since that game, Flacco has added 1,616 yards on 204 attempts. The Browns have won four of their last five games and four straight games with Flacco under center.
Cleveland isn’t just winning games by playing complementary football, either. The Browns have added at least 31 points in three of their last four games, with Flacco adding 13 touchdowns in five games. His eight interceptions are poor, but the team has rallied behind him since he arrived.
Now that the Browns have clinched their playoff spot. Cleveland will ultimately sit its starters and give other guys on the roster chances. That should have a significant effect on this game. But the Browns are making sure they’re healthy headed into the playoffs.
The Bengals Can Still Get Over .500
This wasn’t the season that the Bengals or their fans expected. However, Joe Burrow got hurt multiple times throughout the season and eventually couldn’t continue playing this season.
Meanwhile, the Bengals’ defense didn’t play well outside of the pass rush, which also took a toll on the bunch.
After making it in the previous two, Cincinnati won’t play in the playoffs this season. But finishing .500 without Burrow would still be pretty remarkable.
The Bengals gave the offensive keys to Jake Browning, who had never started an NFL game in his career. Browning proved that he belonged on an NFL roster and gave the Bengals a chance to make the playoffs.
They just fell short. But again, an over .500 season for the Bengals would be impressive regarding what they went through this season.
Should We Trust Jeff Driskel?
Joe Flacco walked right into the Browns facility and became his former self. He fits with the Browns’ system and just exploded for big play after big play.
There’s a chance that Jeff Driskel can do the same.
However, he’s not a Super Bowl winner like Flacco. He also didn’t have the career that Flacco had.
Driskel has a career 59.2% completion percentage with 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He’s also been sacked 40 times in 22 games played this season.
Cincinnati fans will be familiar with Driskel. He played for the Bengals in 2018 and got his first opportunity in Cincinnati. He’s familiar with the facility and field but will play with many backups. That can’t help, knowing how fierce the pass rush from the Bengals can be.
The Bengals aren’t throwing in the towel. They’re looking to win this game. They’ve got all of their starters ready to go and will have more talent on their side of the field.
So, while the Bengals have been poor against the run and have a weak secondary, a solid pass rush can change everything against Cleveland.
Plus, Browning has had some significant games with the Bengals. He’s struggled as of late but still had four games this season with at least 275 yards passing. Those are some terrific NFL player stats from a guy who had never started a game previously.
Therefore, after reviewing the Bengals vs Browns betting lines, we’ll look at the NFL spreads and back the Bengals at -7 (-110).
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