Ohio is an enigma of a state. When you hear about Ohio most people think of Skyline Chili, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, or the Ohio State Buckeyes. Normally the Bengals and Browns don't come to mind. Rightfully so, other than the Bengals' Super Bowl run last season, these teams aren't powerhouses. So when these teams face off in primetime, you probably need to bet the game to care about it. That is where I come in. Let's take a peek into this Halloween showdown and see if we can make this interesting.

Keep in mind, the last time these two teams played, Case Keenum and Brandon Allen were starting at QB. This has no implications on what I am about to say, but it's a fun tidbit.

The Bengals Coming Into MNF

The Bengals are coming off of an explosive win against the Falcons, defeating them 35-17. The offense finally got going in lieu of Ja'Marr Chase's absence from the team, which came to the surprise of many. Sure, the Falcons' defense is as permeable as a plant cells membrane, but an offensive victory of any sort for the Bengals should be celebrated.

We saw the re-integration of Tyler Boyd into the Bengal's offensive scheme. and it sure seems like Boyd was happy to prove that he's still got it! 155 receiving yards is nothing to sneeze at. He even wenn as far to say he was, "Booty butt naked" open against the Falcons. I have no clue what that means, but hey. That sounds pretty wide open... I guess.

The Bengal's defense also has made great strides in the past few weeks, preventing teams like the Dolphins, Falcons, and Ravens from putting up numbers on offense. Hubbard and Hedrickson have been able to pressure opposing QB's, and to date, I have been really impressed with this defensive unit.

The Browns Coming Into MNF

The Browns have made it clear that they plan to run the ball. And why not? They have two of the best running backs in the league on their roster, why not use them? Their 2-5 record is not a great representation of this team, given that 4 of their 5 losses have been by less than 3 points.

As a Michigan fan, I am happy to see that Donovan Peoples-Jones has seen an influx of work when Cleveland decides to air the ball out. In each of the Browns last four games, DPJ has 4+ receptions, and 50+ receiving yards. I wouldn't be surprised to see this trend continue in the battle for Ohio.

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Official Monday Night Football Picks

Browns Team Total Under 20.5 (2 units)

Tyler Boyd Anytime Touchdown Scorer +140 (1 unit)

Donovan Peoples-Jones Over 43.5 receiving yards (1 unit)

Donovan Peoples-Jones Over 3.5 receptions (1 unit)