CINCINNATI -- Jeremy Hill just gave the Cleveland Browns incentive for a season sweep of the Bengals, and maybe more.

Hill, the Bengals’ running back who blasted the Browns’ defense as “probably worse than I thought” despite Cleveland’s 24-3 win Thursday night, is just another misguided rookie, Browns safety Donte Whitner said.

These are exactly the types of comments about the Browns that can fuel a team that already doesn’t seem satisfied with being a nice midseason storyline. It’d rather be a contender in January.

“That’s a rookie. You can’t take his word for anything other than ignorance, being a sore loser,” said Whitner, whose defense held the Bengals to 165 total yards, less than half their normal 362-yard production.

The Browns flustered quarterback Andy Dalton in the worst game of his career (10-of-33 passing for 86 yards, 2.0 passer rating) and created four turnovers. The Browns have given up seven touchdowns in five games (many of those coming in garbage time) and registered 12 turnovers in the last four. But Hill thinks “they didn’t do anything special to me.”

“I mean, respect to them, they won the game. But that’s all I’ll give them,” Hill said. “Those guys, they’re not that good. It was on us (Thursday). We gave them the game, in my opinion. They didn’t do anything special. We just gave them the game. They just sat back with coverage the whole day.”

Whitner, who never backs away from a hard-hitting game, seems to look forward to Dec. 14, when Cincinnati comes to town.

“We’ll see them again,” Whitner said.

If Whitner was crying for more respect, insecurities would show. Instead, by calling Hill’s comments ignorant, he’s brushing off the rookie while still acknowledging bigger goals.

The Browns are trying to change the culture in their own locker room. That’s why Whitner says the 6-3 record “really means nothing. It’s Week 10 in the National Football League. We don’t want to be fourth in the division.”

In fact, the Browns are first in the AFC North in overall record, with the chance to beat all three divisional opponents in the same year.

It's been two decades since the Browns started 6-3, so the inevitable playoff buzz will permeate Cleveland. Coach Mike Pettine said he hopes “our guys know better and I’ll help remind them” if they try to bask in it.

Talking playoffs are good. Expecting them in November is not.

“We’ll have the whole offseason to sit back and reflect on what we did well and the wins and the better moments we’ve had,” Pettine said.

For now, the Browns have Hill, who should get a Christmas card from Pettine for the instant motivation he sent to Berea.