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 be gap-sound on Sunday. Just like Buffalo will want to run the ball to keep the Bengals’ offense off the field, Cincinnati will likely want to run the ball to keep Buffalo’s offense on the sideline, as well. This likely won’t be a big “three linebackers” game, so nickel corner Taron Johnson is going to have to come up big in run support, as well.
WR Tee Higgins
I’m wagering that Higgins will clear concussion protocol and play on Sunday. If he does, that makes a potent Bengals offense that much better. Higgins is big, he plays faster than he times, and he can beat teams in a variety of ways.
Truthfully, he’s what the Bills hope that second-year man Keon Coleman can become. They were both selected No. 33 overall, they both are tall (Coleman is 6’3” and Higgins is 6’4”), and they both ran 4.6-second 40-yard dashes. Coleman’s vertical (38”) and broad jump (10’7”) were better than Higgins’ scores (31” and 10’3”, respectively). What’s also been different has been their NFL production, as Higgins entered the league and immediately showed himself to be a star in the making, catching 67 passes for 908 yards and six scores as a rookie.
This season, Higgins has 40 catches for 575 yards and seven touchdowns in his 11 games. No matter which player Buffalo uses to cover him, that corner is going to be on alert all game.
WR Ja’Marr Chase
What’s worse than having one star receiver to contend with on defense? Having to contend with two of them. While Higgins is clearly excellent, Chase is one of the best wideouts in the NFL. He has 86 receptions for 971 yards and five touchdowns this season on a team-high 131 targets. While Higgins is a long-strider with the size and strength to box out defenders, Chase is a burner who can high-point the ball on players much bigger than he is. Chase is everything you want in a number one receiver. He’s athletic, strong at the catch point, and dynamic in his breaks.
Chase is going to give the Bills fits, but I’d look to use rookie cornerback Maxwell Hairston on him over veterans Christian Benford or Tre’Davious White. Hairston’s speed and athleticism is going to be necessary this Sunday. If Chase is lined up against one of Buffalo’s other corners, then the safeties will need to be prepared to help.
Look for the Bengals to move Chase around the formation, utilizing him in the slot and on motion looks to give them the matchup they want. Buffalo needs to play good, assignment-sound football this weekend.
DE Joseph Ossai
Someone has to make plays on defense. Last week, Ossai had two sacks and four hits on quarterback Lamar Jackson. With star defensive end Trey Hendrickson unlikely to play, it will be Ossai who assumes the mantle of “most dangerous pass rusher” this weekend.
Buffalo did a great job managing edge rusher T.J. Watt and the Pittsburgh pass rush, and they did it with a pair of backup offensive tackles and a modified game plan that involved plenty of chips and help for those tackles. Just because the Bengals are down their best rusher doesn’t mean they can’t generate pressure, and while Buffalo offensive coordinator Joe Brady likes to use five-man protection schemes, he can’t shy away from giving the line help at times.
Ossai is a good player who has the potential to make some big plays this week if the Bills aren’t careful.
