BEREA, Ohio -- It's like Shark Week for the Browns defense.

With Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton being sacked 10 times and throwing six interceptions the last two games, the Browns are smelling blood in the water.

“Yeah, obviously we see that and we want to have the same kind of game against him,'' said linebacker Paul Kruger. "But we respect him as a quarterback. He’s been a good player for a long time. So for us, it’s going to be just playing a sound game and continuing to build on what we’ve been able to do thus far.”

While Dalton has been busy dusting off his backside, the Browns have been putting quarterbacks on theirs at a blistering pace. They've registered 11 sacks in the last two weeks, their highest two-game since 2001. Overall, they have 31 for second in the NFL behind the Chiefs. It's an average of 3.4 per game.

"Yeah, you kind of have to (smell blood in the water),'' said Robertson. "But we'd smell blood in the water even if he hadn't been sacked at all.''

Dalton, the AFC's Offensive Player of the Month for October, has struggled the past two games, both overtime losses on the road. In those games, he's posted his lowest passer rating of the season, 55.4 at Miami and 52.2 at Baltimore. He's thrown only two TDs against those six interceptions -- after 11 TDs and just three picks in his four previous games.

"I think he's going to be ready for us,'' said cornerback Chris Owens. "We've got to have our A-game for sure. Every pro has his tough game here and there, and it's actually pretty dangerous. He's had a rough time. We don't want him to come out and explode on us.''

Robertson said the key for the Browns is to keep applying the heat.

"He's under a lot of pressure with all those sacks, so he's having to get the ball out quick,'' said Robertson. "Anytime you're under pressure, errors are going to happen, so we have to keep putting pressure on him.''

While the pass-rushers are envisioning Dalton staring up at the sky, Haden is imagining plucking balls out of it.

"The thing for us the thing for us it’s not even trying to get our hands on more balls,'' said Haden, who has only one pick this season. "Just the ones we do get our hands on, catch them and we’ll be straight. Sometimes if the defense is there (Dalton's) still going to throw it, so we just have to be able to go up and catch it instead of trying to knock it down.”

Dalton, who was held to a 58.2 rating in his 17-6 loss to the Browns in week three, followed that with four straight victories and a 116.8 rating during that span.

"I've got to do a better job of not turning the ball over, and that's what it comes down to," Dalton said this week. "You've got to understand when you can take your chances and when you can't.''

Gipson on MVP Vote: Second-year safety Tashaun Gipson appreciated defensive coordinator Ray Horton naming his defensive MVP so far.

"It's a humbling experience for coach Horton to speak that highly of me,'' he said. "But at the end of the day, it’s a team sport and I wouldn’t be able to achieve any success without the front seven being able to accumulate that kind of pressure, without guys like Joe (Haden), T.J. (Ward), Buster (Skrine) back there with me,'' he said. "(But) at the end of the day, coach Horton spoke what he spoke and I’m definitely grateful and gracious for his beliefs and I can just continue to go out there and grind and try to become a better pro and have a better second half of the season than I did in the first half.''

Gipson, who's tied for the team lead with two interceptions, third with 11 passes defensed and fourth on the team with 62 tackles, said he hasn't reached his goals this season.

"I’m not where I want to be,'' he said. "I think that everybody’s their hardest critic. I personally feel like I left a lot of plays out there that I want back. I haven’t reached the top. Any guy in this league wants to be at the top. I’m still humble in this process and just want to continue to be the best that I can be. ÂÂI always knew I could play this game and play it at a high level. ThereÂÂ are things that I personally set out for myself. IÂÂ'm still trying to climb and get those. I don'ÂÂt think I exceeded any expectations that I put on myself because I put a lot of pressure on myself.''

Gipson on Finley's surgery: Gipson sent out well-wishes to Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley, who underwent successful spinal fusion surgery on Friday, according to nfl.com. Finley suffered the injury in a collision with Gipson, when Finley lowered his head on a play and crashed into Gipson's shoulder. The refs erroneously said Gipson led with his helmet and flagged him for unnecessary roughness. He wasn't fined.

"When a horrific injury like that occurs, you want to make sure that guy is in good hopes and good spirits,'' said Gipson. "It's not like his football career is over. All I can do it pray about it. Hopefully surgery will be the best thing for his career. I really don't have the magic words or anything. If I could take it back I would. I'm definitely just keeping him in my prayers and hoping he can get everything back on track. That's my wish.''

Gipson said he reached out to Finley a few days after the injury to make sure he was okay. Finley, 26, plans to return to football, and is expecting a three- four-month recovery.

Gray out: Browns tight end MarQueis Gray (hamstring) is out and guard Jason Pinkston (ankle) is questionable. For the Bengals, starting right guard Kevin Zeitler is out, starting linebacker Rey Maualuga (knee) is doubtful and safety Chris Crocker (hamstring) is doubtful.

Benjamin surgery: Travis Benjamin underwent successful surgery to repair his torn ACL and coach Rob Chudzinski expects him back by training camp. He said anything before that would be a bonus.