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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

5 Most Important Games On The Bengals Schedule

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ESPN is predicting an 8–8 record for the Cincinnati Bengals. That puts them within one win (based on ESPN’s predictions), either way, of five other AFC teams (Ravens, Jets, Dolphins, Bills, Colts). Meaning, those are the five teams the Bengals could possibly be competing with for a wildcard berth. If the Bengals want to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2015, who they beat is almost as important as winning in the first place. And we know juuuuust who they can beat.

Here are my five picks for the most crucial games of the Cincinnati Bengals season. Win the majority of these, and a postseason ticket looks very punchable.

It’d be Awesome if the Cincinnati Bengals Won These 5 Games

5. Sunday, December 30 at Pittsburgh Steelers
You may be surprised that this game is this low on the list. That’s mainly because it’s the last game of the season, and the Bengals’ role in the playoff picture could very well be decided by now. If the race is close, though, then the team’s postseason fate comes down to beating their most hated rival on their home turf. How’s THAT for motivation?

4. Thursday, September 13 versus Baltimore Ravens
Wins within your division are doubly important, for obvious reasons. Beat a divisional rival and you are a game ahead of them. The Bengals can make a statement early in the year by knocking off the Ravens. It’ll send a message to the rest of the AFC North. It also gives Cincinnati a little padding if they drop the second meeting in Baltimore 8 weeks later.

3. Sunday, September 9 at Indianapolis Colts
Indy QB Andrew Luck has said in interviews that he feels good. But it wouldn’t hurt him to spike his sideline Gatorade with white vinegar to help get some of that rust off.
He missed the entire 2017 season with a bad shoulder. That makes you wonder how slick the Colts’ offense will be. Hopefully, it’s as effective as that get-under-your-school-desk-to-be-safe-from-the-A-bomb drill your grandparents practiced. Winning here puts a wild card competitor in a hole with 3 of Indianapolis’ next 4 games against teams picked at the top of their divisions (Eagles, Texans, Patriots).

2. Sunday, October 14 versus Pittsburgh Steelers
It’s true that we don’t expect Cincinnati to win the division. We don’t even know if they’ll be favored to win this game. But if you can replace an expected L with a surprise W on your schedule, the season’s outlook changes drastically. Ending Pittsburgh’s 6-game win streak against the Bengals and getting over that mental hump is huge.

1. Sunday, October 7 versus Miami Dolphins
Both teams play tough opponents the week before this matchup. We’re guessing (well, hoping …… um, better make it praying) that the Miami Dolphins will be smarting more from their visit to New England than Cincinnati will be after its trip to Atlanta. If Andy Dalton and company can avoid looking ahead to game #2 on this list, that could pave the way to a pivotal win here.

Cincinnati Bengals Post-Draft, Preseason Picks 2018

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Now that the 2018 NFL Draft is in the rear view mirror and off-season moves have been made, the Cincinnati Bengals could make some noise in the AFC North this fall.

They picked up a handful of players who have more than a handful of promise. They will have OC Bill Lazor running the show on offense and he will go into the year having a full offseason to prepare and install his offense this time. He’s a guy who, let’s face it, would win every “Bitchin-est Name” contest if those things existed.

Those things, combined with a couple of very winnable early-season games and the fact that we play in the same division as the Cleveland Browns, means the playoffs could be within reach this year.

Here’s a game-by-game pick of how I think the Cincinnati Bengals’ 2018 season will go.

Cincinnati Bengals Game-by-Game Picks

Week 1 @ Indianapolis Colts
Andrew Luck has been out of action since being placed on injured reserve last November. The Colts’ 4-12 record shows how important he is to the team. A rusty shoulder combined with a long layoff leads one to think Cincy will start the season 1-0. Put me down as that one. 1-0

Week 2 vs Baltimore Ravens
Of all the picks, this is the one that has me running in slow-mo through a wheat field with my arms open. Cincinnati beat the Ravens 31-27 to end 2017. An early season win here means a one-game lead against a division contender. It also means momentum. That could be the difference between the playoffs or not. 2-0

Week 3 @ Carolina Panthers
The Carolina offense was very un-Cam Newton like in 2017. They were 28th in the league in passing offense. Fortunately, their rushing D only gave up 88 yards a game, and the team rode that stat to a 5th-seed playoff berth. Given the Cincinnati Bengals’s shaky ground game the last few years, we think the Panthers take this one. 2-1

Week 4 @ Atlanta Falcons
The last time there was an air attack this scary, Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds was in theaters. It starts with the 150 Million Dollar Man Matt Ryan and continues with Pro Bowler Julio Jones, 67-catch Mohamed Sanu and first-rounder Calvin Ridley. Sad to say, it looks like the Bengals won’t be able to keep up. 2-2.

Week 5 vs Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins either won small or lost big last year. Five of their fix wins were by one possession or less. Six of their 10 losses were by 14 points or more. They have a new weapon this year in Penn State tight end Mike Gesicki, but a non-quarterback expected to generate an extra two TDs per game is a tall order. Miami won’t be able to generate enough points to keep up with Dalton and Co. 3-2

Week 6 vs Pittsburgh Steelers
There, we said the name … blood boiling yet? If it weren’t for Le’veon Bell’s two-hand touch TD last year, the Bengals could have snapped their losing streak against the Steelers, which now stands at six. As much as we hate to say it, the Bengals will continue to play catch-up in this rivalry. We won’t pick ’em until they beat Pittsburgh. 3-3

Week 7 @ Kansas City Chiefs
KC took the AFC West last year, and lost to the Tennessee Titans in the wild-card by one point. They’ve had the whole off-season to stew on what might have been. That, plus home-field advantage, is enough to convince me. 3-4

Week 8 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers should’ve been called the Butt-aneers, what with their tail-end finishing in total defense in 2017. They allowed 378 yards per game and collected a paltry 22 sacks. The Bengals may not roll in this one, but they won’t lose. 4-4

Week 9 vs New Orleans Saints
Besides Pittsburgh, this is arguably our toughest opponent. QB Drew Brees is still churning out Pro-Bowl caliber stats. The defense, while middle of the road, doesn’t need to be special with the offense generating 391 yards a game. Will Cincinnati win? (shake magic 8 ball) Don’t count on it. 4-5

Week 10 @ Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens will have had time to gel by this point. I’m not feeling a second win for some reason. Don’t ask, just a hunch. 4-6

Week 11 vs Cleveland Browns
5-6

Week 12 vs Denver Broncos
Denver averaged just over two sacks a game in 2017, so they hope to shore up their pass rush with, among other players, first-round draft pick DE Bradley Chubb. He’ll have had some time to get his feet underneath him by Week 12, but he will need more than that. The Cincy O-line will hold up against the blitz, and the team will win. 6-6

Week 13 @ Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers possess the most lethal air attack since Alfred Hitchc …… oh, wait. You already heard that one. So you already know our prediction here. 6-7

Week 14 vs Oakland Raiders
The Oakland/Las Vegas Raid-uhs haven’t been that special since 2002, with only one playoff appearance since then. Jon Gruden’s return will pay dividends long-term, but in the meantime, the Bengals take this one. 7-7

Week 15 @ Cleveland Browns
8-7

Week 16 @ Pittsburgh Steelers
See my previous point about the team from up northeast.

Final record: 8-8. If we can get the wins against divisional opponents, then I say we got a shot at the postseason.

Game 7 Recap: Indianapolis Colts @ Cincinnati Bengals

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The Cincinnati Bengals made this one a nailbiter. Well, they played the Indianapolis Colts, soooo … let’s say a photo finish. It was a back-and-forth battle in which Cincinnati got the final punch – scoring a defensive touchdown with seven minutes left in the game to eke out a 24-23 victory.

The teams matched each other almost stride for stride. Touchdowns were answered by touchdowns on two occasions and neither team led by more than seven points. The tight contests always went against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2016. But this year, they’ve won their last two one-possession games. Let’s hope that trend continues.

How Things Went

The Colts might as well have put a stamp on the line of scrimmage that said ‘Property of Indy.’ They only allowed Cincinnati to rush for 58 yards on 21 carries and put tons of pressure on Andy Dalton.

But here’s the shocker: Even though Dalton had more nose-to-nose meetings than an 80’s rogue cop with his screaming, the-mayor’s-on-my-ass captain, he didn’t throw a pick or have any major screwups. He took three sacks but ended up with very respectable numbers (17-29, 243 yards, 2 TDs). Rookie Cincy receiver Josh Malone nabbed his first pro touchdown reception. Joe Mixon had a sweet 67-yard catch that features more bobs and weaves than Ali in his prime.

But the Cincinnati Bengals’s offense had some less-than-rosy moments. Six of their possessions lasted six plays or less. They didn’t bag a touchdown until late in the second quarter and fumbled four times (losing two). When you’re handling the ball like wet soap in a game this close, it’s more dangerous than in the prison shower room.

Cincinnati Bengals Player of the Game

Carlos Dunlap takes the honors today with his 16-yard pick-six midway through the fourth quarter. That score (which gave Cincinnati the 24-23 lead), along with a sack, a TFL and three stops, capped off a fine performance.

What This Means Going Forward

It was a much-needed win for the Cincinnati Bengals. It kept them within spitting distance of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North race. With four winnable games coming up in November (Jaguars, Titans, Broncos and Browns), Cincinnati can put themselves back into having a shot at postseason play.

Game 1 Recap: Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals

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Aaaaaaaand the jets …….. are cooling.

The Baltimore Ravens took a leg up over division rival Cincinnati (and by “leg up”, think about when a dog does it) with a 20-0 shutout at Paul Brown Stadium. The story of the game was Cincinnati Bengals’ QB Andy Dalton. He committed five turnovers, including two in the red zone. Cincinnati was held to a paltry 221 yards of total offense. It was about as disappointing as you could get, especially with all the off-season hype. The team motto for this year is “Run On Your Own Gas”. Today, it already looked like Cincy was running on fumes.

How Things Went

The Ravens broke the game open with two 2nd-quarter touchdowns in 24 seconds. After they went 76 yards in seven plays (capped by a 48-yard scoring pass from Joe Flacco to Jeremy Maclin), Cincinnati started the ensuing drive at their own 13-yard line. Dalton bounced a ball off of Terrell Suggs’ facemask (and yes, we know how that sounds … pervs) that Ladarius Webb picked off and returned to the 2-yard line. Terrance West took it in on the next play. For all intents and purposes – ball game.

Cincinnati Bengals Player of the Game

This game doesn’t really justify this section, so we’ll do a drive-by: AJ Green had 74 yards on five catches.

What This Means Going Forward

Turnovers cost the Cincinnati Bengals this game, plain and simple. What worries us is who was responsible for said turnovers. Dalton is normally reliable with the pigskin. But today, he threw half as many interceptions (four) as he did all of last season. We hope this isn’t a sign of things to come in 2017. In the meantime, the Bengals can only hope to split with the Ravens this year and hope that the two teams aren’t contending for the same playoff spot.

Now Cincinnati has a short week before a Thursday-night game against the Houston Texans. Fortunately, Houston looked shabby in a 29-7 loss to the Jaguars. That makes us hopeful. And after today, we could use some hope.