Friday Football Fix

NFL Week 6 Featured Game

Storylines: The second battle for Ohio and the first rematch of the 2012 NFL season has Cincinnati traveling north to Cleveland in an attempt to extend the Browns current losing streak to 12 games.  Can Cleveland get off the schneid lack the Saints did last week or will the Marvin Lewis’ Bengals continue their recent dominance over the “Dog Pound?”

Talking Points:

• The Bengals have tortured Browns fans winning the last 8 games against their in-state rivals.  However, since 1999 (the year Cleveland became a franchise again) the home team has won 8 of the 13 rematch games played.
• Andy Dalton is statistically having a solid second season for Cincinnati completing nearly 66% of his passes, averaging 269 ypg, with a QB Rating of 92.9.  However, during his short career Dalton has completed only 55% of his passes, averaging under 203 ypg passing on the road against divisional opponents, with his only win coming against the Browns last season. The Bengals are also averaging under 18 points in these games.
• During the tenure of head coach Marvin Lewis Cincinnati is 14-14 on the road against divisional opponents, winning by an average of 9.5 ppg and only once have they failed to cover the current -2 spread in those wins.
• After nine home games under head coach Pat Schmur Cleveland is a meager 3-6, failing to win any game by more than 4 points.  Interestingly the Browns have only lost three of these games by 4 or fewer points.
• Sunday’s game will be the third matchup between the offensive and defensive coordinators of each team.  The Bengals’ coordinators have gotten the best of the matchup so far winning each game by an average of 28 ppg and racking up 353 ypg on offense while limiting the Browns offense to just over 21 ppg and 333 ypg.
• Browns’ rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden’s best game of his short professional career came against the Bengals as he completed over 70% of his passes for 322, two touchdowns, and a 114.9 QB Rating.
• Cleveland may have the 26th rushing offense in the league averaging only 77.8 ypg. However, the offense rushed for 130 yards in the Week 2 matchup and under DC Mike Zimmer Cincinnati is 4-18 when opposing offenses rush for 130 yards or more. That’s a .182 winning percentage.

Keys to Victory:  We all know that winning and losing streaks must end at some point, so why not this week for both teams? To date the Bengals coaching staff has gotten the better of the Browns, but the fact remains that Cincinnati is a .500 team on the road against divisional opponents under Marvin Lewis and Cleveland could easily have a 6-3 record at home under Schmur.  For the most part the Browns have played well over the past two weeks, with only the mental errors and turnovers of a young team hindering their ability to win.

Pay close attention to whether or not Browns’ Trent Richardson gets off to a quick start rushing the ball.  Even though the running back in only averaging 3.7 ypc this season, he is a beast and someone who already seems to be carrying to offense (Richardson average 5.7 ypc in the first matchup against the Bengals).  If he and Weeden continue to play well and expand on their confidence gained in Week 2, then there is every reason to believe that Cleveland will be in control of whether or not their losing streak ends.  Additionally, Cincinnati’s atrocious conversion rate on 3rd down (24.6% and good enough for second worst in the league) has to catch up with them at some point and the return of cornerback Joe Haden to the Browns lineup won’t make converting these downs any easier.

Line: CIN -2, 44 o/u

wins, take the Browns plus 2, and the over

Beerbecue’s Beer Recommendation

Our friend/guru on all things related to beer, Mr. Beerbecue provides his biased, informative, and entertaining recommendation for your football fix.  Check out all of his illuminating beer reviews at beerbecue.com.

Photo By: Adam Sonnett of sonnettbeers.blogspot.com

Great Lakes Oktoberfest (Cleveland, OH)

Sure Oktoberfest was officially over on October 7 this year, but festivals still pop up here-and-there in the US throughout the month of October. Besides, beerbecue is not above seeking out deals on beers that are past their season but still fresh. So, go pick up some for a song.

Like any good Oktoberfest beer, Great Lakes brings the bready malt character. And although I usually prefer the drier, crisper, and local-er Port City Oktoberfest, Great Lakes has a creaminess to it that I am down with. There is no hop character to speak of (a slight spiciness, if anything), but this is as it should be. And although the 6.5% ABV seems to be on the style’s high end, it is still highly drinkable…which is one of the chief hallmarks of a good Oktoberfest beer. So, cue up some Oom-pah tunes and tell your Frau to fetch you a cold Great Lakes Oktoberfest.*

*In the beerbecue household, this would likely result in the beer bottle being stuck up mein arsch.

Click here to check out the availability of Great Lakes in your neck of the woods and their complete line up of beers by clicking here.

Cleveland Browns Food Recommendations

Cleveland has some great food and food traditions which include both German and Polish cuisines.  But instead of cooking up the typical sausage and kraut, why not diversify with some potato pancakes and homemade pierogies to soak up all the “Sunday Suds” you’ll be drinking.

Polish Potato Pancakes from Anula’s Kitchen

Homemade Pork & Cabbage Pierogies 

Cincinnati Bengals Food Recommendations

Cincinnati is perhaps most famous for it’s distinctive style of chili that can be prepared up to five different ways.  However, the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area is also known for something called Goetta, which is a combination of ground meat, pork, steel cut oats, and spices.  It’s a traditional regional wake up thing that you can thank German immigrants for. Here are recipes for both of these Nati specialties.

Goetta from Rita Heikenfeld

Cincinnati Style Chili Two, Three, Four, or Five Ways

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