CINCINNATI — One team in today’s installment of the Battle of Ohio still has a pathway to the playoffs. The other one, despite a season which has careened into a ditch, still has a pathway to the No. 1 overall pick.

Take a guess which one’s which.

The Cincinnati Bengals (6-8) welcome the Browns into their concrete jungle looking to pounce on another prey in the hopes of continuing to play meaningful football games beyond this week. The Los Angeles Chargers’ win over the Denver Broncos on Thursday night kept those hopes glimmering, at least until the outcome of Sunday’s games are determined.

That’s where the Browns, 3-11 and with a 2.4% chance of getting the No. 1 overall pick in the draft according to ESPN, enter into the equation. Cleveland can end those hopes with its first win in Cincinnati since 2021.

Can the Browns pull it off? Here’s how the three writers who follow the Browns for us, Chris Easterling, Nate Ulrich and Dan Kadar, view the team’s Week 16 road game.

Browns vs. Bengals prediction: Who wins in NFL Week 16 Sunday afternoon

EASTERLING: The crazy fact that Cincinnati could be, potentially, on the outside of the playoffs once again is crazy because its offense has been elite this season. Quarterback Joe Burrow has come back from last year’s season-ending thumb injury looking like the best version of himself, while wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is running up the tab that the Bengals are going to have to pay him to keep him around. That’s the offense the Browns expect Dorian Thompson-Robinson to go shot for shot with. Cleveland’s defense has played Cincinnati well during Burrow’s career. It’s going to have to carry the day to answer “Who dey think gonna beat them Bengals?” BENGALS 31, BROWNS 10

ULRICH: You never know when a change at starting quarterback can create a spark for a team, so it’s possible Dorian Thompson-Robinson can do it for the Browns. It’s more likely, however, the Bengals will take care of business at home and earn a season sweep against the Browns. BENGALS 28, BROWNS 20

KADAR: The Browns have oddly been good against Cincinnati this decade with a 6-3 record against the Bengals. In 2022 and 2023 the two teams split their season series. Can that happen again with the Browns playing spoiler for the Bengals? Nope. The Browns have too many issues on offense to keep up. BENGALS: 27, BROWNS 13