Browns’ McCoy back in lineup

Associated Press

CINCINNATI

Walking off the field in Cleveland last Oct. 3, the Bengals were kicking themselves over what they felt was one bad day. No one imagined it was the start of an incredible streak.

More than two months later, they still haven’t won a game.

The Bengals (2-11) have tied the franchise record by dropping 10 in a row, ranking them with Dave Shula’s 1993 team as the longest losers in club history. The record-tying slump spans three months and an array of game-scuttling plays — interceptions, fumbles, missed field goals, a brain-freeze offside penalty.

Their rematch with the Browns (5-8) in what’s dubbed the Battle of Ohio is more of a last stand to avoid record-setting embarrassment.

“I think going through 10 weeks of losing is enough to think about,” quarterback Carson Palmer said. “I don’t think there’s too many guys worried about records or thinking about things like that. Just guys are worried about trying to win one game at a time.”

At least the Browns can say they’ve had a winning streak.

Cleveland opened the season 1-5, including that 23-20 in over the Bengals. They had to repeatedly change quarterbacks — Jake Delhomme was inconsistent, Seneca Wallace and Colt McCoy both sprained ankles — but a turnover-fetching defense got things stabilized.

The Browns have two sets of back-to-back wins, including victories over New Orleans and New England on consecutive weeks. And McCoy returns as the starter, getting a chance to show what he can do in the final three games.

“I felt like he’s earned this opportunity and I want to give it to him,” coach Eric Mangini said. “I want to see how he continues to grow. This is by no stretch just throwing a young guy in for the sake of throwing a young guy in.”

The overriding question in Cleveland is whether a strong finish — the Browns play AFC North rivals Cincinnati, Baltimore and Pittsburgh — would be enough to save Mangini’s job. A 13-6 loss in Buffalo last Sunday didn’t help much.

First-year Browns president Mike Holmgren hasn’t tipped his hand.

“Mike has talked about looking at things at the end of the season,” Mangini said. “My approach is something that I learned a long time ago, which is just to focus on the task at hand.”

There’s no mystery about what they have to do today at Paul Brown Stadium to push the Bengals’ losing streak to 11. They’ve got to stop Terrell Owens — one Bengal who’s not going quietly — and get Peyton Hillis the ball as much as they can.