It's the 96th installment of the Battle of Ohio, as the Bengals and Browns square off in The Jungle on Sunday. Cincinnati leads the all-time series 51-44, as home field advantage has played a major factor in the rivalry.
Here are five things to know ahead of Sunday's Week 9 AFC North matchup with the Cleveland Browns:
1. 4k Mixon Magic
All eyes on Sunday should be on the run game, as Joe Mixon is nearing an accomplishment only a select few who have worn the Bengal stripes have ever achieved. Mixon needs 69 rushing yards to reach 4,000 for his career, and once he hits that mark he will become the sixth Bengal to ever do so. Mixon will also join Corey Dillon, James Brooks and Pete Johnson as the only Bengals to record 4,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards. However, Mixon is in line to become the fastest to reach the 4k/1k feat. If he eclipses the mark on Sunday, he will have done it in 59 career games. That would be 12 faster than Dillon, who did it in 71 games.
2. Joe Runs This Town
History has shown that Mixon has a good chance to join the 4k/1k club this Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium. In three career home games against Cleveland, Mixon has rushed for 365 yards and three touchdowns. That is an average of over 121-rushing yards a game. Mixon enters Week 9 fourth on the NFL rushing leaderboard, tallying 572 yards and averaging over 4 yards per carry.
3. Battle of Ohio
Home field advantage has played a major factor in the rivalry. The Bengals are 13-4 against the Browns at Paul Brown Stadium since 2004, and in those wins they've put 30 or more up on the scoreboard eight times. But Mixon isn't the only Bengal who enjoys playing the team up 71 North, the last two times Tyler Boyd has taken the field in Cincinnati against Cleveland he's recorded 173 yards and two touchdowns.
4. Third & Boyd
Boyd has been a rock for the Bengals in crucial situations throughout his six-year career. Three of his five catches last week and both of his touchdowns this season have come on third down, bringing his third down reception total for the season to 13. That is the ninth most among all receivers in the league. Last season Boyd led the team in third-down receptions with 19, as three of his four touchdowns also came on third down.
5. Cowboy Wrangler
For the fourth time this season, Logan Wilson led the team in tackles, as he posted a career-high 10 solo tackles while playing a career-high 80 defensive snaps against the Jets. Wilson's 72 total tackles on the season are the most by any second-year player in the league and is tenth overall. He remains second in the league with four interceptions and is the only linebacker in the NFL with more than two.
