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Bengals Week 3 Preview – Cincinnati at Carolina

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Cincinnati Bengals (2-0) at Carolina Panthers (1-1)

After watching the Bengals first two games of the year in person, I’ll get the chance to relax a little and watch week three from my house. As many of you know who read my preview last week, I was in attendance at the game against Baltimore this past Thursday. I have to say, being at the game this year versus games last year is quite different as there is a different energy and atmosphere at the stadium. Fans are more optimistic, more into the game, and a whole lot louder! It was an awesome time last Thursday and I am looking forward to my next game against Miami. Until then, I will enjoy watching the next two games on TV.

To briefly recap last week’s game, we saw the duo of Andy Dalton and A.J. Green look unstoppable. We continue to get big turnovers on defense. But that’s not what I want to recap, it’s the injuries. As many of you know, in this weeks game against Carolina, the Bengals will be without center Billy Price and running back Joe Mixon. Price is an important piece to the offensive line, however Trey Hopkins did not play bad in his place. The biggest injury for me is Joe Mixon’s. We have seen the offense lean on him early this year, and after two weeks he was second in the league in rushing. According to Mixon, he is feeling awesome after his surgery and it sounds like we could see him back in week 5 or 6.

Now onto week 3, where the Bengals travel to Carolina to play the Panthers. The Bengals sit atop the AFC North, undefeated. The Panthers are playing for their hometown that was just hit with a devastating storm. If the Bengals can pull out the win they will be sitting in the driver seat in the AFC North.

Matchups to watch for…

The Bengals Linebackers vs. Cam Newton and Christian McCaffrey – The Bengals secondary should have no issue containing the Panthers wide outs, which puts all the pressure on the front seven to contain McCaffrey and Newton. Cam can be frustrated, which at times can affect his play. If the Bengals front can get to him early and knock him around it could be enough to throw off the offense. McCaffrey is one of the best pass catching backs in the league. Covering running backs with linebackers hasn’t always been the Bengals strong point. This offense runs through these two guys. This will be the toughest test of the year so far, the Bengals must stop Cam and/or McCaffrey to disrupt the offense. Stop one of them and it should stop the entire offense.

Trey Hopkins vs. Kawann Short – As I mentioned before, Hopkins will get the start at center in place of the injured Billy Price. Last week Hopkins filled in for Price, giving up zero sacks and only a handful of pressures against a very talented Ravens front. This week he had the whole week to prepare for one of the league’s top defensive tackles, Kawann Short. If the Panthers are smart they will have Short lined up over Hopkins all game long as it should be one of their best mismatches up front. If Hopkins can contain Short in this game, Bengals fans will be able to sleep a little bit easier with Price on the sideline for the next 2-4 weeks.

Exterior Bengals Pass Rushers vs. Back up Offensive Lineman – With both starting tackles, Matt Kalil and Daryl Williams, out for this game and starting guard Trai Turner in the concussion protocol, the Panthers could be down three starting lineman. This should be a huge advantage for the Bengals talented defensive line. The Bengals d-line dominated during the preseason but haven’t had a “dominate” regular season performance yet. The Bengals should be able to get loads of pressure on Newton, disrupting his passing game. Newton can scramble, but as long as the Bengals linebackers contain him, he should see pressure in his face throughout the game.

Other things to watch for…

Last week the Bengals again did a very good job of overcoming injuries and still pulling out a win. They will again have to show us this week that they can continue to win with “the next man up”. They are also underdogs going into this game for the third straight week. This will be a tough game on the road with a few notable injuries. This is the game that will show us just who these Bengals are.

My Prediction: Bill Lazor has had 10 days to plan for an offense featuring Giovani Bernard. I have no doubt that Lazor will have a very good game plan for Sunday. I don’t see the offense missing much of a beat. It will all come down to the defense, if Cincys D can contain Cam Newton and frustrate him early I think the Bengals can win this game. The Bengals are dealing with injuries yes, but so are the Panthers. In addition to their lineman, Cam’s favorite target and pro bowl tight end, Greg Olsen, is also out for this game. The Panthers injuries should create more of an impact than the Bengals, and I think this is the difference in the game. I think it will be a close and tightly contested matchup but think a Randy Bullock field goal late in the game is the difference.

My Prediction: Bengals 24 Panthers 21

My Bengals Predictions on the year: 2-0

Be sure to follow me on twitter @Pierson242FF, Who Dey!

Game: Cincinnati Bengals (2-0) at Carolina Panthers (1-1)

Date/Time: September 23, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. EST

Location: Bank of America Stadium

Uniforms: Black Jersey

Last Matchup: 10/12/14 – Bengals 37, Panthers 37

Odds: Bengals, +3

Bengals Week 2 Preview – Baltimore at Cincinnati

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Baltimore Ravens (1-0) at Cincinnati Bengals (1-0)

Wow, was it nice to have football back, not just for the Bengals but for the NFL as a whole. It was of course especially good for Bengals fans as they not only won but they also saw the Steelers not win. They of course tied with the Browns which ties the Bengals for first place in the AFC North and a chance to take it over against the team they are tied with, the Baltimore Ravens.

Before we move on to week 2, there’s a few things I want to mention from what I saw at the game Sunday. First things first, Joe Mixon is good at football. After a disappointing rookie year, Joe Mixon looks as good as advertised, tallying nearly 150 total yards from scrimmage and a touchdown. Mixon was the difference maker in Sunday’s game. Next, is the offensive line, while they were not perfect they were MUCH better than last year. Mixon saw more success running, and Dalton got more time to throw. It is still early in the year and they should continue to develop. A.J. Green had a case of the fumbles on Sunday, fumbling twice. It was not good to see from the veteran but not something to worry about. Green has been in the game long enough, he will fix it and move on. Overall it was a great performance for the Bengals who started slow, going into halftime down 10-16. However, in the second half they clicked and played like a much better team, outscoring the Colts 24-7.

Now onto week 2, where the Bengals host the Ravens on Thursday Night Football. The Ravens are fresh off of a blowout win against the Bills, and as I mentioned, both teams will be playing for the AFC North division lead.

Matchups to watch for…

Joe Mixon vs. Baltimore’s front seven – Baltimore held the Bills to just 83 yards rushing as a team, with no one exceeding 31 yards total. They played well, however the Bills offensive line is significantly worse than the Bengals. The Bengals were able to rush for over 100 yards as a team, with Mixon going for 95 himself. Mixon was a difference maker in the game Sunday, without him they don’t win. Mixon will be a huge piece if the Bengals want to win Thursday night. They need to get him going early and often so he can find his rhythm and repeat his week 1 performance.

John Ross vs. Brandon Carr – Carr gets his second start due to the suspension of Jimmy Smith. Carr had an exceptional week one allowing two catches for 24 yards on seven targets. However, the competition Carr faced last week is not quit what he will get in week 2. Carr should be lined up against John Ross most the game and it will be interesting to see what Ross can do. With Marlon Humphrey and either Eric Weddle or Tony Jefferson on Green. Ross should see man coverage. Aside from a short touchdown reception, Ross was quiet in week 1. If the Bengals are to win this, they will need some big plays from Ross. He has the skill to win this matchup, all eyes will be on the speedy second year man vs. this Baltimore defense.

Geno Atkins vs. Marshall Yanda – Geno made his presence known on Sunday sacking Andrew Luck once and recording 4 tackles. He did it against their rookie first round pick.  This week he will not be as lucky. He faces one of the league’s best in Marshall Yanda. In week 1, Yando received a 87.9 Pass Block grade and allowed no pressures. It’s the league’s best versus the leagues best. Hopefully Geno can out muscle him in the trenches and put Flacco in the dirt.

Other things to watch for…

Based on last Sunday’s game in Indy it appears that many think the Bengals defensive line underperformed because of their lack of sacks, to which I disagree. They may not have recorded many sacks but it was because of Andrew Luck’s elite sense of pressure. Multiple times it looked as if the Bengals would drag him down and he would step up and avoid it. He also was getting the ball away very quickly to avoid the pass rush. I don’t think Joe Flacco will be able to escape the way Luck did.

My Prediction: It will be fun to watch and to see what Bill Lazor’s offense can do in week 2 against a very good Ravens defense. The Ravens do not have big tight end threats which the Bengals tend to struggle against, like the Colts do. This will leave more pressure on the secondary than the linebackers, which is a better place to depend on for this defense. All eyes will be on the defensive line to see if they can turn there pressures into sacks on Joe Flacco. I am excited for the first home game of the year. With the confidence of a week 1 victory, the Bengals have the talent to show this Ravens team what they are made of. The last time Dalton faced the Ravens he threw for three touchdowns and knocked them out of the playoffs. The Bengals are 7-2 in their last nine meetings with Baltimore. With confidence, and a new found run game, the Bengals win this one 27-24.

My Bengals Predictions on the year: 1-0

Be sure to follow me on twitter @Pierson242FF, and if you are at the game, be sure to tweet at me as I will also be in attendance on Thursday. Who Dey!

Game: Baltimore Ravens (1-0) at Cincinnati Bengals (1-0)

Date/Time: September 13, 2018 at 8:20 p.m. EST

Location: Paul Brown Stadium Stadium

Uniforms: Black Jersey

Last Matchup: 12/31/17 – Bengals 31, Ravens 27

Odds: Bengals, +1.5

Bengals Week 1 Preview – Cincinnati at Indianapolis

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Cincinnati Bengals (0-0) at Indianapolis Colts (0-0)

In what can almost be considered a home game for the Bengals, they travel to Indianapolis on Sunday to take on the Colts in Andrew Luck’s return to football. Both teams will be looking to bounce back from poor 2017 seasons.

For the Colts it will be Andrew Luck showing he is still capable of playing football and that he can do it at a high level. The Colts defense looks like it may be one of the worst in the league, so they will need everything they can get from Luck. For the Bengals it will be all eyes on Andy Dalton. Loaded with talent around him it depends on what Dalton can do against a poor Indy defense to prove he is still a guy capable of winning a championship with.

Matchups to watch for…

Geno Atkins vs. Quenton Nelson – Nelson was the highest picked offensive lineman in the 2018 NFL Draft, and it was no surprise to see the Colts take him. The Colts have one of the worst lines in the league and need everything they can to help protect Andrew Luck. Nelson gets no time to adjust to the NFL as his first career start will be against all-pro defensive tackle Geno Atkins. Geno is one of the best interior lineman in the league, Bengals fans are hoping he can use his experience to make easy work of the rookie.

A.J. Green vs. Quincy Wilson – In what could be the biggest mismatch of the game, A.J. Green will go up against Colts corner Quincy Nelson. Nelson was a second round pick in the 2017 draft and did not see a lot of playing time last year, this year he starts out guarding an all-pro in A.J. Green. Green should be able to take advantage of this matchup, which should also open up John Ross to one-on-one coverage on the opposite side. The Bengals should be able to capitalize on this Colts secondary.

William Jackson III vs. T.Y. Hilton – Green and Wilson will not be the only WR/CB matchup to watch. On the flip side we will see what could be one of the toughest matchups for both players on the day. T.Y. Hilton is one of the best deep threat receivers in the league, who struggled last year with no Luck. William Jackson is one of the league’s elite up and coming young corners. Jackson held Antonio Brown (ever heard of him?) without a reception last year. William Jackson will look to continue his success from last year against Indy.

Other things to watch for…

The Bengals entire defensive line –  The Bengals should have a strong outing this week against a bad Colts line. There is also rumor that Colts starter Anthony Castonzo is questionable for this game. Expect the Bengals ferocious d-line to carry their preseason momentum into Lucas Oil.

Bengals offensive weapons not named AJ Green – As mentioned before, the Colts have one of the league’s worst secondaries on paper. Outside of Malik Hooker, who is returning from injury, the Bengals have several favorable matchups. With Green lined up drawing Hooker’s attention, Ross, Boyd, and Eifert should feast with one-on-one coverage opportunities.

My Prediction: It should be an exciting games for Bengal fans to see what Lazor’s offense can do after a full offseason. A weak Colts defense should be the perfect game to display his creativity with his weapons all healthy. I am very optimistic about this Bengals team in 2018 and I think they go in and win in convincing fashion to open the year. With a fierce pass rush, and a deadly air attack, the Bengals win this one 35-17.

Be sure to follow me on twitter @Pierson242FF, and if you are at the game, be sure to tweet at me as I will also be in attendance on Sunday. Who Dey!

Game: Bengals (0-0) at Indianapolis Colts (0-0)

Date/Time: September 9, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. EST

Location: Lucas Oil Stadium

Uniforms: Color Rush

Last Matchup: 10/29/17 – Bengals 24, Colts 23

Odds: Bengals, +3

Bengals vs Cowboys – Preseason Week 2 Preview

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Cincinnati Bengals (1-0) at Dallas Cowboys (0-1)

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LAST WEEKS RECAP

The Bengals got off to a promising start last week against the Bears, winning 30-27. Thanks in part to a late game winning touchdown by Auden Tate.

On offense we saw a near perfect outing from the first team starters. They played three offensive drives, scoring on two of them with ease. The one where they did not score was due to an interception by Andy Dalton. However it shouldn’t raise any huge red flags since it was not really his fault. John Ross slipped on the route making it an easy pick by the defense. The first team offense gave fans plenty to be happy about, including the new offensive line. Dalton spread the ball around well and moved the ball down the field smoothly.

The first team defense also showed very well. They held Mitchell Trubisky to just four yards passing. One of the most promising displays was the Bengals pass rush. With a rotation of Carlos Dunlap, Geno Atkins, Carl Lawson, Michael Johnson, and Sam Hubbard, the Bengals will be hard to keep off the quarterback. The middle of the defense still needs some work with the linebacking core as they need to figure out how to deal with the absence of Vontaze Burfict. But was an overall very solid showing against the Bears offense.

5 THINGS TO WATCH AGAINST DALLAS

1) The most important thing I will be watching for this weekend will be the linebacker play. Dallas has a very good run game with both Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott. Last week we saw the linebackers make a few mistakes against the run. If they can show improvement and hold Prescott and Elliot on the ground, it will be a very encouraging sign. The Bengals have to see better play from their linebackers without Vontaze Burfict on the field.

2) My eyes will again be on Tyler Boyd and John Ross as I continue to see if they can step up and add to this offense like people expect them too. I’m excited to see them more involved and hope they can get some confidence going against a weak Cowboys secondary.

3) The offensive line is something to watch for every week during preseason. The Bengals offensive line coach previously coached the offensive line for Dallas, so it will be interesting to see what his line can do against his former team. The line will have their hands full with Demarcus Lawrence and the rest of the Cowboys line. Both the starting right guard and right tackle spots are still up for grabs, so there should be some great battles to watch in the trenches.

4) Jeff Driskel has passed Matt Barkley on the depth chart and should be the second quarterback to see the field. Driskel should see a little tougher competition this week so be sure to keep an eye on how he handles the new competition.

5) The last thing to watch for is rookie safety Jesse Bates. Bates challenged George Iloka for playing time last week. Bates is still a rookie learning the game and did not have any highlight plays against the Bears but showed a lot of upside with his awareness and quickness. The Bengals are usually slow to give rookies playing time, so for Bates to see the field as early as he did is a very telling sign for the rookie.

Game: Bengals (1-0) at Dallas Cowboys (0-1)

Date/Time: August 18, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. EST

Location: AT&T Stadium

Last Matchup: 10/09/16 – Dallas 28 Cincinnati 14

Odds: Bengals, +3 (Odds Shark)

Thanks for reading, be sure to follow me on Twitter @Pierson242FF for your latest Bengals news. Be sure to tweet any Bengals or general football questions or comments my way.

Deepest Position Groups on the 2017 Cincinnati Bengals’ Roster

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There are certain Cincinnati Bengals position groups that we hate to see get hit by the injury bug (quarterback, linebacker, offensive line). While you never want anyone to get hurt, it is comforting as a fan to know that an injury to a position group won’t have you popping a Zantac.

So we took a look at the Bengals’ roster and found two places where the team has some serious depth. These are the groups that can survive a few dings in 2017.

Deepest Cincinnati Bengals Offensive Position Group – Wide Receiver

What a difference a year makes. At one point in 2016, the Cincinnati Bengals were just one A.J. injury away from having a Cleveland Browns-caliber passing attack.

Fast forward to this year. Green is healthy and ready to go. Tyler Boyd had a fine rookie campaign (54 catches, 603 yards) and has a high ceiling. He’s ready to take the next step in his career. Brandon LaFell averaged 13.5 yards per reception. Draft picks John Ross and Josh Malone and second-year man Cody Core are impressing so far.

Them, plus several youngsters and pass-catching tight end Tyler Eifert, means one thing. This group is deep enough that you can put diving boards over it.

Deepest Cincinnati Bengals Defensive Position Group – Defensive Tackle

A lot of good DTs on your roster means you can rotate guys frequently. Keep them fresh. Withstand the rigors of a 16-game season. Oh, and stay in the face of the other team’s offense.

The good news for Cincy is they have the personnel to improve on their 21st-ranked rushing defense from last fall. Geno Atkins and Pat Sims are the veterans who bring seven and nine years of experience, respectively. Atkins consistently attracts double teams, notched nine sacks last year and is a disrupter.

The team has high hopes this season for Andrew Billings who was projected as a 1st or 2nd round draft pick in the 2016 draft but fell into the Bengals lap in the 4th round before missing his entire rookie season due to injury. DeShawn Williams is only in his second year out of Clemson, but is a 6’1” 295-lb Geno Atkins-like bowling ball who is tough to push around. Brandon Thompson is back after missing all of 2016 with an ACL tear, further adding to the depth. Marcus Hardison has looked impressive the past 2 preseasons but hasn’t been able to stay healthy to impact the regular season, throw in 2017 fourth round draft pick Ryan Glasgow out of Michigan and you can see the wealth of young talent this team will have competing to make the roster in training camp and the preseason.

Things are looking good for these two position groups. And if they are able to do their jobs well, things will look a lot better for the rest of the team.