The winless Cincinnati Bengals will have two of the most electrifying players in franchise history on the field Monday night when they induct Boomer Esiason and Chad Johnson into their Ring of Honor at halftime of their game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Quarterback Joe Burrow is listed as questionable after missing one practice and being limited in the two others this week, and the team is expected to take the decision on whether to play him right up until kickoff.
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Los Angeles Rams Game Preview
Jake Browning will get the call if Burrow is unable to go, which would make him the 32nd starting quarterback in franchise history (not counting strike-season replacement players).
Of the previous 30, 18 made their NFL starting debuts in a Bengals uniform, and the results have not been favorable, with only five coming out victorious. Two of those five, however, will be at Paycor Stadium on Monday in AJ McCarron — whom the Bengals signed to the practice squad on Saturday — and Esiason.
Let’s talk about Boomer and Chad’s game ⬇️
Lap’s Look | @surface pic.twitter.com/CdYhI8ChUq
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) September 22, 2023
There has been a lot of talk and reflection about this Super Bowl LVI rematch, with many of the coaches and players saying they are looking at it less as a rematch and more as just another game they need to win to stop their early-season slide.
And a start by Browning would only be the latest step in removing themselves from that emotionally crushing 23-20 loss in Los Angeles on Feb. 13, 2022.
7 Bengals-Rams Stats From Inside Edge
Stat: Bengals running back Joe Mixon is allowing just 2.2 yards on 3rd-and-short since the start of 2022 — third worst in the league.
The Rams have allowed 2.2 yards when defending 3rd-and-short since 2022 — best in the league.
Analysis: Mixon has been the biggest bright spot on offense, albeit a little-used one, during the 0-2 start. He’s averaging 4.4 yards per carry and already has three carries of 10 yards or more. It took him until Week 5 last year to hit that number. But on 3rd-and-short this season, Mixon has three carries for five yards (1.67 per).
But everyone from head coach Zac Taylor to offensive coordinator Brian Callahan to quarterback Joe Burrow has pointed to the inability to sustain drives and let the offense find a rhythm as a reason for the slow start, so it’s crucial that Mixon and the offensive line improve on converting on short third downs.
Stat: Rams tight end Tyler Higbee has 30 catches in his last eight games (3.8 per) — tied for seventh best among qualifying tight ends.
The Bengals have allowed 6.1 catches per game to tight ends during that span — fifth worst in the league.
Analysis: A tale as old as time, the Bengals struggle with opposing tight ends. Browns tight ends had five catches for 41 yards and a touchdown, and Ravens tight ends had six receptions for 53 yards and a score. In Week 18 last year, Baltimore’s tight ends put up 152 yards on 12 catches, even without Mark Andrews playing.
MORE: Despite 0-2 Start, Where Do Cincinnati Bengals Land on PFN’s Week 3 NFL Power Rankings?
Dax Hill has settled into the role of covering tight ends on third down, when opposing tight ends have had four catches for 26 yards this season. However, Matthew Stafford is throwing the ball as well as ever, even with Cooper Kupp on injured reserve (IR), ranking third in passing yards (641) and fourth in completions (58) through the first two weeks.
Despite that, Higbee only has six catches for 61 yards, and the Bengals can’t let this be the week he gets rolling.
“Matthew Stafford with the uh-uh!”
📺 @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/XoiMJdvKb3
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) September 17, 2023
Stat: The Rams have 17 touchdown passes since the start of 2022 — second fewest in the league.
The Bengals have allowed 20 passing touchdowns in that span — fourth best in the NFL.
Analysis: Lou Anarumo’s defense has allowed more than one touchdown pass in just four of the last 18 games, and the Bengals won three of those contests (last week’s Baltimore loss was the outlier).
A big reason Cincinnati ranks as high as it does was the connection between Vonn Bell and Jessie Bates was strong enough to prevent miscommunications and blown assignments that lead to big gains, often for scores.
The Bengals lost safety Nick Scott for a bit in the second quarter and then for good on the first play of the fourth quarter, leaving Hill to play with rookie Jordan Battle on the back end. Meanwhile, DJ Turner and Chidobe Awuzie are still rotating snaps. Scott is expected back to face the Rams, his former team, and we’ll see if Awuzie is ready to assume a bigger share of the snaps to give the secondary some continuity Monday night.
Stat: The Bengals have allowed opponents to pressure their quarterback on 18% of pass attempts since the start of 2022 — tied for second best in the league.
The Rams have pressured opposing quarterbacks on just 19.9% of pass plays since 2022 — fifth worst in the NFL.
Analysis: The big reason the Bengals went out and signed Ted Karras and Alex Cappa (and drafted Cordell Volson) in 2022 was what the Rams did to their offensive line in Super Bowl LVI.
Reinforcing the interior of the offensive line to be better equipped to deal with inside rushers such as Aaron Donald and Jeffery Simmons was the top priority. Now the Bengals get Donald and Simmons in back-to-back games.
The improved line and Burrow’s ability to get the ball out quick is why the Bengals rank so high in this stat. The fact that Donald missed the final six games last year plays a role in why the Rams rank so low.
If Burrow can’t go, Browning won’t be processing things as quickly, so the Cappa-Karras-Volson interior is going to have to try to keep that pressure rate low against Donald and L.A.’s defensive line.
Stat: The Rams are averaging 2.79 points per drive — second best in the league.
The Bengals are averaging 0.91 points per drive — second worst in the NFL.
Analysis: This is the No. 1 stat Taylor and Callahan look at to judge their offense, and it’s typically one where they have been leaders. Last year, the offense ranked fifth with 2.32 points per drive, a category in which 11 of the top 13 finishers qualified for the playoffs.
MORE: 2023 NFL Standings
There is belief in the building the offense turned a corner at halftime last week, just as it did midway through the Week 2 loss that dropped them to 0-2 last year at Dallas. In their five second-half drives last week, the Bengals scored 17 points (3.4 per). And if it weren’t for an uncharacteristic Burrow interception in the red zone, that number would be bigger.
If the Rams keep up their current clip of 2.79, the Bengals can’t afford more than a couple of possessions that end in punts for turnovers.
Stat: The Bengals have won five consecutive regular-season and postseason prime-time home games.
Analysis: Not only does that tie the franchise record, it’s also tied for the longest active streak in the NFL with the 49ers and Steelers.
Two of those five wins were Ring of Honor nights, which is what’s on tap for Monday night, with Esiason and Johnson set to be inducted at halftime.
Taylor is 3-0 in regular-season prime-time games at home and 0-5 on the road.
Stat: Cincinnati punter Brad Robbins is averaging 40.7 yards per punt — worst in the league.
Analysis: Robbins’ net average of 37.8 ranks 28th. If the Bengals are riding with Browning, field position is going to be an important factor. Cincinnati special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons said he isn’t overly worried about Robbins’ slow start because he’s seen him perform the way he needs to in practice, and the rookie needs to settle into his role. But fast.
“He’s got to punt better. He’s got to punt more consistent,” Simmons said. “It’s my job to get him over the hump, to get the mental breakthrough of carrying over what he’s doing in practice into the game.
“(Thursday) he had a phenomenal day, probably one of the best days he’s had. So again, it doesn’t matter what he does in practice. It only matters what he does in games. But the positive for me is he’s doing it, I know it’s in there, and now he’s got to carry it to the game.”
Bengals vs. Rams Predictions
- David Bearman: Bengals
- Adam Beasley: Bengals
- Dalton Miller: Bengals
- Jay Morrison: Bengals
- Dallas Robinson: Bengals
For all of PFN’s Week 3 predictions, we have you covered.
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