Although the drama unfolding around Odell Beckham Jr. is enough to distract the team, head coach Kevin Stefanski is doing everything he can to keep the Cleveland Browns focused. They have a tough matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9 and need to be all hands on deck for this game.

According to Mary Kay Cabot, Kevin Stefanski claims the team is ‘desperate for a win over the Cincinnati Bengals. That might be true, as the Browns have found themselves in last place in the AFC North. A loss would put them at 4-5, and their playoff hopes would look bleak. Stefanski went as far as to say:

“I see the challenge in trying to get a win. We're 4-4. We have to get a win. Our lives depend on it is the way we look at it. We're desperate, and that's where our focus is.”

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Every game is important in the NFL, but the Browns are in a must-win situation. Cabot goes on to explain the exact situation by saying, “The Browns can ill afford to fall to 4-5 against the 5-3 Bengals and slip to 0-2 in the AFC North. Stefanski knows it will be a long, hard road back to the playoffs if the Browns lose this game, especially with the Bengals being so good this season.”

The desperation Cleveland is feeling also stems from the noise surfacing around Odell Beckham Jr. and his father. Having the locker room distracted is never a good thing, and it seems as though Kevin Stefanski and Baker Mayfield have at least gotten on the same page with Jarvis Landry. So, at least the Browns have that going for them.

We'll see how it plays out for the Browns, as this ordeal with Beckham Jr. is long from over. For now, the best thing to do is to focus on the Bengals on Sunday. A win will provide confidence in this franchise and help them leave the drama behind them. However, a loss could be the nail in the coffin for an already struggling franchise.