The much-anticipated second half of the Cincinnati Bengals’ season starts Monday night. They head to East Rutherford, New Jersey to take on the New York Giants. The G-men sport a 5–3 record, but that shouldn’t make you worry. The only people who need to apply an extra layer of antiperspirant are the defensive coordinators.
Neither the Cincinnati Bengals’ passing D (18th) nor the Giants (21st) crack the top half in passing defense. What makes this even worse (or better, depending on your view) is that both teams are in the top 11 when throwing the ball (Cincy is 10th, NY 11th). Two pretty good aerial attacks playing two defenses that would have trouble stopping a nervous driver’s ed student with a red light and a police car? Um, yes please!
Here are a few other things to keep an eye on come kickoff time.
4 Things to Watch in the Cincinnati Bengals Week 10 Game
1. The Giants have only rushed for 546 yards – the fewest in the NFL. Stopping the run isn’t Cincinnati’s strength, but if they can force NY into some 3rd-and-longs, then they’ll be one-dimensional. That will make things easier for a passing defense that needs all the ease it can get.
2. The Cincinnati Bengals’ offense has been balanced of late. They’ve averaged 211/yards a game on the ground and 275 through the air the last two weeks. Now tight end Tyler Eifert is back to help QB Andy Dalton and receiver AJ Green. A balanced attack will keep the Giants off balance.
3. New York is 5-3 despite having a -7 turnover ratio. If Cincinnati can get Eli Manning and company to cough it up early, it could get inside the Giants’ heads.
4. Who will have the bigger game – Odell Beckham Jr. or A.J. Green? We’ll have fun finding out.
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