Buffalo Rumblings
The Cincinnati Bengals have just four wins, and yet, if they defeat the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, they will maintain slim hopes of coming all the way back to win the AFC North title. While it’s unlikely, the Bengals could still make a run to the postseason if things break their way. After dropping a 32-14 beatdown on the Baltimore Ravens last week, they took the first step towards making their own breaks in their quest for a postseason berth.
With their superstar quarterback having returned from injury last week, newfound life came into the team. The beleaguered Cincinnati defense forced five turnovers and looked rejuvenated against a divisional rival. If they can carry over that kind of performance this weekend, then it could be a step towards making that unlikely playoff dream a reality.
While the Bengals’ defense will clearly be put to the test this weekend, it’s their offense that contains most of the names to watch, both as a fan and as it pertains to this game. Here are five Cincinnati players to watch against the Bills on Sunday.
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QB Joe Burrow
The Bengals are 3-0 in games that Burrow starts this year. They’re 1-8 in games where he doesn’t start. Sure, Burrow didn’t force five turnovers last week, but he did throw for 261 yards and two touchdowns in his first game action since September. He looked perfectly mobile after missing time thanks to turf toe, which was a welcome sign for the Bengals. Sure, veteran Joe Flacco didn’t play poorly in Burrow’s absence — in fact, he was outstanding, throwing 13 touchdowns against just four interceptions — but the lift Burrow gave Cincinnati last week impacted every facet of the game.
Buffalo needs to find ways to generate a pass rush this weekend, which will be a tall order given that they’re likely down Joey Bosa in addition to Michael Hoecht and Ed Oliver along the defensive line. If the Bills can disguise pressure to make Burrow hold the ball, it could be their best bet in sacking him. If they blitz, he’ll pick it apart, and if they’re too obvious in their pre-snap alignment, he processes so well and so quickly that he’ll shred them anyway.
The Bills need to give some simulated pressure looks where four players are rushing, but which four players are coming is a mystery. If they just line up and have their defensive line try to beat Cincy’s offensive line, I don’t see it going very well.
RB Chase Brown
So much attention is given to the Bengals’ passing offense that their excellent running game is an afterthought. Brown has 704 yards and two scores on 160 carries, good for a 4.4 yards-per-carry average. He’s also active in the passing game, catching 48 passes for 287 yards and another score.
Buffalo isn’t going to sell out to stop the run like they did last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, so they’ll need their defensive line and linebackers to...
