COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The Bengals and Browns, both 1-3, face a pair of teams that have won a combined five straight games. What will it take to halt their momentum and create some of their own?

Here are the keys to Week 5:

Baltimore Ravens (2-2) at Cincinnati Bengals (1-3)

Sunday at Paycor Stadium, 1 p.m.

Space Oddity: The Bengals defensive ground control is off course, despite offseason measures to fill gaps up front and in the secondary. This week’s game doesn’t bode well for the fifth worst defense in points allowed, primarily thanks to a run defense that is allowing 145.5 yards per game, including 155 to the Panthers, who trailed by as many as 17 points in the third quarter.

Adding to its troubles, the defensive line is a walking infirmary, with tackles Sheldon Rankins and B.J. Hill limited because of hamstring injuries. Defensive end Trey Hendrickson (neck) suffered a stinger last week and is questionable for Sunday, and end Sam Hubbard (hamstring) is struggling to recover his form after a season-ending ankle injury in 2023.

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) runs the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

Baltimore, meanwhile, is coming off two dominant performances with 30-year-old running back Derrick Henry looking like an all-pro once again. The two-time NFL season rushing leader once again leads the league in yards with 480 through four weeks, including 151 and 199 yards in each of the last two games. His five touchdowns match the number the Bengals have allowed, and there’s little signs of improvement in Cincinnati.

The Ravens run defense, on the other hand, is tops in the league, allowing 57.8 yards per game. It will likely make the Bengals one-dimensional, which puts the game on quarterback Joe Burrow’s shoulders. Burrow has certainly been effective, but the defense hasn’t been able to do its part to help produce victories.

Stat to watch: The Bengals have produced just five sacks this season, second lowest in the NFL. Injuries to the defensive line paired with an elusive Lamar Jackson spells trouble.

Line: Ravens 2 ½. O/U: 48 ½.

Prediction: Bengals continue in the wrong direction. Baltimore, 31-24.

Cleveland Browns (1-3) at Washington Commanders (3-1)

Sunday at Northwest Stadium, 1 p.m.

200: Never mind 300 yards, a benchmark Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson hasn’t hit since the season finale of the 2020 season. Watson has yet to throw for 200 yards through the first four games this season. It is no coincidence then that the Browns rank 31st in total offense (246.3 yards per game), 29th in passing offense (151.3) and 27th in scoring offense (16.5 points per game). The offensive line isn’t doing Watson any favors, having allowed the second most sacks, 19, this season, and is blocking for the worst run game in the league (94.8 yards per game).

So, the early season woes aren’t exclusive to the quarterback, but no one else on the team is making $46 million this season … and next season. No one else, other than perhaps defensive end Myles Garrett and injured running back Nick Chubb, is relied upon so heavily to deliver game-winning performances. The reality is the onus is on Watson, who ranks last among all NFL starting QBs in adjusted quarterback rating.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) walks off the field after the Browns were defeated by the Las Vegas Raiders 20-16 in an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

The Commanders are coming off a solid defensive performance against Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals. Washington limited the Cardinals to 296 total yards, including just 142 passing yards for Murray. While the Commanders have allowed the most points (102) in the league by any team with a winning record through Week 4, they are also the fourth-highest scoring offense, with a rookie quarterback to boot. Jayden Daniels (107.4 QB rating) has topped 226 yards passing in each of the last three weeks and owns an 82.1 completion percentage – the highest ever rate of any quarterback through the four games of the season.

With the third best rushing game (169.3 yards per game), the Commanders have what the Browns seek, a balanced and complementary offense. The Browns defense, dominant last season, has been good to be sure, but not elite, a far cry from the unit that helped carry them to the playoffs in 2023.  

Stats to watch: The Browns rank first in the league in Red Zone touchdown percentage (5 of 6, 83.3%) but last in the league in average yards per drive (21.2).

Line: Commanders 3. O/U: 43 ½.

Prediction: 200 yards or not, Commanders hot streak continues at the expense of the lethargic Browns. Washington, 24-19.