The Bengals regular-season finale is set to kick off Sunday from FirstEnergy Stadium on the shores of Lake Erie, as Cincinnati looks to even the season series against the Browns.
Here are five things to know ahead of Sunday's Week 18 Battle of Ohio with the Cleveland Browns:
1. Kings In The North
The Bengals are back in the playoffs and back on top of the AFC North. In 17 of the past 19 seasons in the NFL, at least one team has won their division after finishing in last place the year before. This year, it's the Cincinnati Bengals. It's the fifth time in team history the Bengals have won their division after finishing fourth in the division the season before, joining the 1970, '81, '88 and '90 teams. The '81 and '88 teams would go on to the Super Bowl those seasons.
2. Record Chasers
Numerous Bengals records have already fallen this season, but there are a handful within striking distance of breaking Sunday. Ja'Marr Chase needs 12 yards to pass Chad Johnson's single-season receiving record of 1,440 set in 2007.
Evan McPherson is three points away from passing Mike Nugent's 132 points scored during the 2011 season, and the Bengals offense needs five points to pass the mark of 448 set by the 1988 Super Bowl team, for most points scored in a single season.
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3. Magic In The Middle
The Bengals have seized scoring opportunities in the middle eight this season; the last four minutes of the first half and the first four minutes of the second half. During that span, the Bengals have a plus 49-point differential, good for second best in the AFC.
When you break it down even further, only the Bengals and Packers are in the top five in both points scored during the final two minutes of the first half (Cincinnati 63, Green Bay 69), and points scored during the first offensive possession of the second half (Cincinnati 53, Green Bay 72).
4. Lockdown Chido
Chidobe Awuzie has been the shutdown corner the Bengals hoped they were signing this offseason. Awuzie is Pro Football Focus's highest-graded cornerback among all qualified AFC corners, posting an 83.5 grade on the season.
Awuzie is coming off his best PFF grade of the year posting an 88.5 against the Chiefs, where he was the top tackler of the game, recording double-digit solo tackles (10) for the first time in his career.
5. Trip Up North
The Bengals have been tough to beat away from Cincinnati this season, recording five wins away from Paul Brown Stadium. Since the bye, the Bengals have won every road game, and have an opportunity on Sunday to win their sixth of the season. The last time the team accomplished that feat was in 2015.
