The Battle of Ohio in 2022 between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns might be more interesting than most modern editions.
Those Bengals just went to the Super Bowl, while those Browns took the Deshaun Watson gamble at quarterback, leaving the position a question mark.
On the field itself, the Browns gave the Bengals one of their worst losses of the season last year in 41-16 fashion. Cincinnati got swept in the season series, though didn’t put starters on the field for Week 18.
But what about the fans? The crew at Around The Horn just had the in-state debate as to which fanbase was more intense. Some of the analysts agreed the Bengals fanbase might be top 10, but most seemed to agree that the Browns fanbase was much bigger.
There was this closing argument worth highlighting, though: “Bengals fans care more about the few scraps they get from the Bengals than Browns fans do.”
Either way, a notable like Bengals great Willie Anderson took issue:
This is sad man. People in media in 2022 covering football still not doing homework. To not know that the @bengals have a wild &loyal Fanbase even during some really bad years in the 90’s is absurd! Marvin Lewis brought a different culture in 03! Zac Taylor has fans going crazy
— Willie Anderson (@BigWillie7179) July 15, 2022
Funnily enough, what happens in 2022 on the field might go a long, long way in driving this debate for years.
