On Thursday night December 19th, 2024, the Cleveland Browns travel to Cincinnati Ohio for a Thursday Night Amazon Prime matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. With the AFC North predicted to be the toughest division in football. This late season primetime game is expected to have playoff and division implications.

The Cleveland Browns have recently matched up well against the Bengals. Cincinnati’s franchise quarterback Joe Burrow’s career record against the Cleveland Browns is 1-5. His last start against the Browns was in Cleveland for the 2023 season opener. Burrow was not himself in that game after being hampered by injuries in training camp. And the weather that day was not helpful either. The 2023 season for Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals was ravaged by injuries. Despite the injuries they finished with a 9-8 record, 4th place in the AFC North Division, and missed the 2023 NFL Playoffs. But that was last season.

I have a feeling that in 2024 the Cincinnati Bengals are going to be a very good team. A short week on the road late in the season against a very good team will be another tough test for the Cleveland Browns. With 17 games in an NFL season every game is important. 6 of those 17 games are divisional games. They are twice as important.

The AFC North on paper is the toughest division in football. Any of the four teams can win the division or finish in 4th place with a winning record. As the season plays out in 2024, the division championship could be determined by health and luck. Luck is always preparation meeting opportunity. For the Cleveland Browns three divisional games in December is an opportunity to win the AFC North. The question that will be answered is how prepared will they be?