The previous time the Bengals tried to stop

Baker Mayfield White Chris Hubbard Jersey , he set a Browns rookie record with four touchdown passes in little more than half a game. He also gave a cold shoulder to his former head coach while leaving the field.The Bengals are looking for anything positive at the end of another bad season. Containing Mayfield on Sunday would qualify.Cincinnati (6-8) has been eliminated from playoff contention for the third season in a row. It's the intrastate rival Browns (6-7-1) who are barely still in contention with two games left, emerging from their historically bad run of losses as their rookie quarterback grows up a little more each week 鈥?and builds a reputation, too.Asked what Mayfield does best, cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick had an immediate answer."Talk," Kirkpatrick said Wednesday."Naw, he's cool," the cornerback added. "I like to see that out of young guys. He definitely gets in guys' heads. That's what this game is about."He sure got into the Bengals' heads on Nov. 25.Mayfield led the Browns to touchdowns on their first four chances, including a 96-yard drive. He was barely touched while going 17 of 22 for 245 yards in the first half, when the Browns piled up 296 yards.Up 35-7 early in the second half, the Browns essentially ran out the clock. Mayfield threw only four passes in the second half, one of them for a touchdown Youth Myles Garrett Jersey , as Cleveland finished off a 35-20 win .It was the Bengals' second game since coach Marvin Lewis fired defensive coordinator Teryl Austin and assumed the role. The defense has been better lately against lesser opponents. The Bengals ended a five-game losing streak Sunday with a 30-16 win over the Raiders , who were missing both starting guards.The defense finally looked more like Lewis had hoped."It hasn't been easy," said rookie defensive end Sam Hubbard, who had two sacks on Sunday. "We've been trying to address a lot of issues in practice."It's difficult to quantify how much of an effect Hue Jackson's had on the defense. The Browns fired him as head coach after Cleveland got only two wins in the first eight games. Lewis quickly hired his close friend as a special assistant on defense, Jackson's third stint on Lewis' staff.Jackson helps create the defensive game plan and is on the sideline during games, offering Lewis advice when needed. He also talks to players on the sideline about adjustments that need to be made.Jackson will be a focal point on the sideline Sunday in Cleveland, where he won only three games in two-plus seasons. He's kept a low profile in Cincinnati not only with the media but also with players, trying to be careful not to infringe upon the other assistant coaches' areas.He was in the spotlight when the Browns visited last month. Safety Damarious Randall intercepted a pass by the Bengals sideline and handed the ball to Jackson , who patted him on the helmet. After the game, Jackson sought out Mayfield, but the rookie didn't want to talk.Jackson's decision to join an AFC North rival and plot to beat the Browns didn't go over well with some of his former players. His current ones don't want to get into it."I don't care about that Myles Garrett Jersey ," Kirkpatrick said. "He was their coach. Their might have been something personal. I don't know. I'm not going to get into it."You'll have to ask Hue."Jackson? He's not talking.BOYD SIDELINEDReceiver Tyler Boyd topped 1,000 yards in the win over the Raiders, but hurt his right knee late in the first half and didn't return. He was held out of practice Wednesday, an indication he's unlikely to play in Cleveland. Linebacker Jordan Evans (ankle) also missed practice.BURFICT RETURNSLinebacker Vontaze Burfict returned to practice on a limited basis after missing the past two games with a concussion. Right tackle Cordy Glenn (back), running back Joe Mixon (wrist) and receiver John Ross (knee) also were limited.Jarvis Landry knew Baker Mayfield was “ready” since draft day Jarvis Landry said Baker Mayfield’s attitude and charisma are “contagious,” and that he knew the rookie was ready to play from the day the Cleveland Browns drafted him.Landry has said a lot. He has also backed it up by becoming the focal point of the Cleveland Browns offense. But even as a proven performer, the receiver said he needs to tweak some things with Mayfield taking over the quarterback position.“I got to turn up the JUGS machine to like eight or nine now, since Baker throws that ball so hard. He threw one to me in the game and I dropped it because I didn’t even know how to put my hands, and before I could make the decision, the ball was on me,” Landry said on NFL Network Ian Rapoport’s RapSheet and Friends podcast. “So Authentic Derrick Kindred Jersey , I just realized it’s a little bit of a different ball, a lot more velocity, so I definitely got to get on the JUGS for that, and catch as many balls from Baker as possible.”“I just kind of kept running and before you know it the ball was up and he throws the ball with so much zing,” Landry told Rapoport. “It got to me so quickly.”Mayfield’s velocity and quick decision-making were two standout traits he showcased last Thursday. While he might not fit the prototypical physical mold many think of when they imagine the ideal NFL quarterback, he spins a pretty football like you’d expect.You know there’s some English on those passes if a veteran like Landry is having to make adjustments to keep up.But throwing a pretty ball and making quick decisions aren’t all that goes into engineering a successful offense. It takes a connection between a quarterback and his receivers.“It is just trust. He is a football player and so am I. The trust level. To say that we have not gotten any reps [the trust level] seemed pretty high on Thursday,” Landry said during Wednesday’s player availability.There’s still a ways to go before Landry and Mayfield completely trust and are familiar enough with one another, but early returns have been positive. They’re going to be put in new situations each week and will benefit from figuring each other out when challenged in different ways.Since trust is so important, it’s remarkable how quickly the pair were able to build up a playing rapport despite not practicing together much at all. That speaks to how much both players prepare, not just in the week leading up to game day, but every day since they showed up in Berea.Because of his talent Youth Joel Bitonio Jersey , attitude and work ethic, Landry said he has known for awhile that the rookie has what it takes to play in the NFL.“Since the day that that they drafted him,” Landry responded to the question. “Obviously, understanding the potential and the things that he can do and what makes him special and having the guys around him with the trust level at a premium to make the plays, as well.”“One thing that I know about him, he walks it like he talks it,” Landry added. “That is something that I appreciate and I respect about him and that he has continued to do.”After another solid day of interviews, Landry wouldn’t escape without leaving us another sound bite to chew on as we prepare for Mayfield’s first NFL start.“It’s that walk it talk it. He definitely has that attitude and charisma, and you know that’s contagious,” Landry finished with a chuckle. “It’s contagious.“Contagious.” Custom Tennessee Titans Jerseys