The Cincinnati Bengals have returned from their Week 7 bye and now have their sights set on the second half of the season, which will feature — as head coach Zac Taylor called it — an “11-week gauntlet” of a schedule.
Can the Bengals take down the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday? We dive into this week’s game, preview the rest of the year, and discuss what moves Cincinnati could make before the NFL‘s Oct. 31 trade deadline.
From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!
PFN Bengals Podcast: Previewing the Second Half and the Trade Deadline
The Bengals could be facing the 49ers at the right time. San Francisco won’t have wide receiver Deebo Samuel on Sunday, while left tackle Trent Williams could also sit out.
Plus, the 49ers have lost back-to-back games to fall to 5-2 and will be suffering from a rest disparity in Week 8. While Cincinnati will be coming off a bye, San Francisco will be playing on just six days of rest after losing to the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football.
MORE: Cincinnati Bengals Missing One Starter in Post-Bye Return to Practice
The slate won’t get any easier, even if the Bengals dispatch the 49ers. Cincinnati has to play the Buffalo Bills in Week 9 and the surprising Houston Texans in Week 10 before facing another game against the suddenly-elite Baltimore Ravens in Week 11.
We also staged a few Bengals-related rankings.
What’s more likely: The Bengals making the playoffs or two defenders finishing with double-digit sacks?
What happens first: Cincinnati has a 100-yard rusher, or the club suffers a home loss?
Finally, we discussed the upcoming trade deadline. Could the Bengals make a move for an RB or TE before next week? Would a Samaje Perine reunion make sense?
We’ll be returning to your airwaves each and every week — join us next week when we recap Bengals-49ers and preview Cincinnati’s Week 9 game against the Bills.
Listen to the PFN Bengals Podcast
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