anybody http://www.clevelandbrownsteamonline.co … sey-jersey , the Buccaneers fired their coordinator and got a better showing — and a slump-busting win — the next time out.The Bengals won't be doing anything so drastic, even though they've got significant issues that came to the forefront during their second-worst drubbing under coach Marvin Lewis. All they can do is hope players get healthy and things get better before it all slips away.Their matchup Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium could be a pivotal moment heading into the season's midpoint."I still believe we're in great shape," Bengals receiver Tyler Boyd said. "I don't think we're a bad team or we're coming off a week we can't overcome. But we've got to tighten up now."Tampa Bay (3-3) ended a three-game slide that cost defensive coordinator Mike Smith his job. He was replaced last week by former Bucs assistant coach Mark Duffner, who simplified the game plan. The Buccaneers held Cleveland to 305 total yards and had five sacks during a 26-23 overtime victory .The showing was encouraging, and so is the upcoming schedule. Tampa Bay is nearing the end of a stretch of four road games out of five, with one more at Carolina next week. Then the Buccaneers play four of five at home."How we won the game Sunday — if we continue doing that, I think we'll be fine," said defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who has had a sack in each of the last five games.It's not so clear cut for the Bengals (4-3), who have squandered much of their fast start with a last-minute home loss to Pittsburgh and a 45-10 loss at Kansas City last Sunday night. The defense got shredded for 551 yards, the offense managed a season-low 239 total yards, and there were missed tackles and botched plays that figured in their second-biggest margin of defeat during Lewis' 16 seasons.The game on Sunday begins a favorable stretch for the Bengals: four of five at home. They've already fallen out of first place in the AFC North and can't slip any more behind."This game is important for us, and we want to end the first half of the season the right way," quarterback Andy Dalton said.Five things to watch at Paul Brown Stadium:BETTER DThe Buccaneers' defense was much better vs. Cleveland, but it still ranks last in pass defense. Middle linebacker Kwon Alexander and backup linebacker Jack Cichy suffered season-ending knee injuries against the Browns http://www.clevelandbrownsteamonline.co … ert-jersey , forcing a shuffle at the position. Adarius Taylor moves from outside linebacker to the middle, and Devante Bond — who rejoined the team last week after being released in September — takes over at the outside spot."That's a great linebacker we lost," Pierre-Paul said of Alexander.THIRD TIMEJameis Winston makes his third start since returning from a suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. The Buccaneers' offense is ranked No. 1 in the league. Winston threw for 365 yards against the Browns but was sacked four times, threw a pair of interceptions and lost a fumble, a reminder of his biggest problem: turnovers."It's costing us points and putting us at risk," offensive coordinator Todd Monken said.DALTON'S CHALLENGEDalton got off to his best start since 2015 , throwing for 11 touchdowns in the first four games. The offense has stalled in the last three, with Dalton throwing for only four touchdowns. The Bengals have been hurt by the loss of two tight ends and running back Giovani Bernard. They were one-dimensional in the drubbing at Kansas City, with receiver A.J. Green accounting for 110 of their 139 total yards in the first half. They'll be looking to get running back Joe Mixon and the other receivers more heavily involved against the Buccaneers."A.J. is going to get his — he deserves it, and he should," Dalton said. "He's a big part of why this offense has been successful throughout the years. But if we can spread the ball around, it helps."FLAT AND FLATTENEDThe Bengals' defense played its sloppiest game in Kansas City, with missed tackles helping the Chiefs pile up those 551 yards. Cincinnati's defense is ranked second to last in the league in yards allowed and third worst in points allowed."We've just got to have that fire," cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick said. "We didn't play with enough fire."OLD FRIENDSLewis and Bucs coach Dirk Koetter have been close friends since they were teammates at Idaho State from 1978-80. They were in each other's weddings. They remain close even as they get set to try to beat each other."When you're playing each other, I don't know if you'd say it's special because both guys want their team to win http://www.clevelandbrownsteamonline.co … lve-jersey ," Koetter said. "We'll be rooting against each other."AP Sports Writer Fred Goodall contributed to this report. Hue Jackson only wants to help. Honestly.A day after Cleveland's embattled coach strongly suggested he might take control of his team's sputtering offense following an overtime loss at Tampa Bay, Jackson said he was merely offering assistance to coordinator Todd Haley and that he has no intention of calling plays.Jackson said he spoke with Haley and that he plans to "infuse" himself into Cleveland's offense."I still think that two heads are better than one in certain situations," said Jackson, who served as Cleveland's OC while going 1-31 during his first two seasons. "Obviously, somebody has to lead it and that is Todd's job. But at the same time, if I see something where I can help and help us be a little bit better, I think that is my job, as well."As for his principal job, Jackson believes he still has the support of owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam despite his 3-35-1 record and the Browns' inability to win tight games."No doubt. No doubt. None," Jackson said of the Haslams' backing. "No question."Why so confident, coach?"Conversations," he said without offering specifics.But Jackson's days could be dwindling if the Browns (2-4-1) don't start stringing together some victories. On Sunday, they dropped their 24th straight road loss — two shy of tying the NFL record — when Tampa Bay's Chandler Catanzaro kicked a 59-yard field goal. It was Cleveland's fourth OT game already this season, and yet another example of a game the Browns could have won but found a way to lose.Afterward, Jackson Womens Emmanuel Ogbah Jersey , who is now 3-14-1 in games decided by six points or less, grew irritated and defensive when pressed about his relationship with Haley, who came to Cleveland following six seasons with Pittsburgh. Jackson said his intention was not to butt heads with Haley and three times said, "I'm the head coach of the football team."Jackson explained he wasn't criticizing Haley or any of his assistants and that his remarks were rooted in his passion to win."I think sometimes the way maybe it came off — and I take responsibility for that — was not in harshness of staff," he said. "It was in harshness of 'God, I want to win.' I want to do whatever I think it is going to take to help our football team win. That is where my motivation was coming from."His comments rang hollow to some Browns fans irritated with the losing who want Jackson fired immediately. Twitter timelines filled with scathing comments about him and sports talk radio airwaves buzzed with anti-Jackson rants.Jackson understands fans are angry. He is, too. But he's more committed to building the Browns into a winner, and accepts full blame for their problems."When you're a 1-31 coach from a year ago, everybody is going to take it as I am passing the buck," he said. "People are going to feel the way that they feel. I am human just like anybody else, and I want to win. I want to assist. If there is an issue that I can help as a head coach, I would think that is something that you do. I did not feel like I said anything wrong."I know what I meant and I know what I said, and I still feel the same way today. I am not changing off of that. At the same time, people say, 'He is not winning. He has to move it someplace else.' That is not what I am trying to do. All of this falls squarely on me."While the Browns have been competitive and shown growth http://www.clevelandbrownsteamonline.co … oun-jersey , they continue to be plagued by slow starts, mental mistakes and penalties. They were whistled 14 times for 114 yards against the Bucs, who picked up several key first downs on Cleveland infractions.That's not all on Jackson, who still seems to have his players' attention.Center JC Tretter, who played Sunday despite a sprained left ankle, said the Browns aren't letting the losses divide them."We're not frustrated to a point of fracture," he said. "We're frustrated because we're not winning and we expect to win and the amount of preparation, the amount of work we put in, we feel that and we want to win. It's frustrating. But it's not to a point where we're turning on each other or turning on the coaches."NOTES: RB Nick Chubb said he learned about Carlos Hyde's trade to Jacksonville on Friday from one of his college coaches. "I didn't believe it," said Chubb, who gained 80 yards and scored a TD against the Bucs. "I got a call from Duke Johnson. We were surprised. We just talked it out. We didn't understand why or what happened. It was a shock to everyone." ... Jackson has asked the NFL why Tampa Bay wasn't flagged when QB Baker Mayfield was hit in the helmet. "That was disappointing," Jackson said. "That is all that I can say." Custom Atlanta Falcons Jerseys