NFL schedule 2020: Biggest game for all 32 teams

MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 02: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks to pass against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida. The Chiefs won the game 31-20. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

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CINCINNATI, OHIO – DECEMBER 29: Joe Mixon #28 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs with the ball during the game against the Cleveland Browns at Paul Brown Stadium on December 29, 2019, in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Cincinnati Bengals: vs. Cleveland Browns

No one is expecting much out of the Cincinnati Bengals after they went just 1-15 a year ago, securing themselves the top pick in the NFL Draft. That choice should net the Bengals a new franchise quarterback in Joe Burrow, but Cincinnati has quietly been amassing some talent in the offseason.

Spending money in free agency is usually not the Bengals’ modus operandi, but Cincinnati has opened the checkbook to bring in players like Vonn Bell, D.J. Reader, Trae Waynes, and Mackensie Alexander to bolster their defense. That unit should be significantly improved, putting less pressure on Burrow to outscore the opposition to win.

Asking the Bengals to go from one win to playoff contenders is a tall order, but there is no reason why they can’t be significantly improved year-to-year. A good barometer of how far the Bengals have come will be in their matchups with their in-state rivals, the Cleveland Browns.

The season series was swept by Cleveland a year ago, which says more about the Bengals’ ineptitude than the ability of the Browns. Cleveland massively underachieved last season and it remains to be seen if their offseason work has led to significant improvement.

These games are usually highly competitive so it will be interesting to see if the Bengals can at least split with the Browns in 2020. The contest at Paul Brown Stadium should be of particular importance since that was where Cincinnati secured its only win a year ago, topping the New York Jets in December.

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