Bengals vs. Bills: Full Cincinnati Game Preview
Undefeated one week before a well-deserved bye, the Cincinnati Bengals hit the road for an AFC encounter with the Buffalo Bills.ย
The Bengals enter Orchard Park 5-0 after rattling off 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter last week before besting the Seattle Seahawks in overtime. Andy Dalton carried the team in his newfound collected manner, and the defense came up big when it mattered.
Things aren't so cut and dried for the Bills, who have injury questions at quarterback, running back and wide receiver. Still, the Bills tout impressive depth on both sides of the ball and sit at 3-2 for good reason.
If there's a versatile team that could give the Bengals trouble, it's Buffalo. Here's everything to know about what classifies as a trap game.
Viewing Info
Location: Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
Date: Sunday, October 18
Time: 1 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Week 5 Results and Recap
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AFC North Standings
| Team | W | L |
| Bengals | 5 | 0 |
| Steelers | 3 | 2 |
| Browns | 2 | 3 |
| Ravens | 1 | 4 |
Cincinnati's late comeback against Seattle gets the headlines, as it should.
Dalton survived his offensive line's worst performance of the year (four sacks) by going 30-of-44 with 331 yards and two touchdowns to one interception. Both scores went to tight end Tyler Eifert, although everyone and anyone seemed to get involved with five players grabbing at least five receptions.
More concerning was the defense. It grabbed five sacks of Russell Wilson, but overpursuits and sloppy tackling let Thomas Rawls run as if he were Marshawn Lynch on the way to 169 yards and a score. Big plays through the air due to lapses in coverage were an issue, too.
Alas, it's hard to complain about the result, especially with the Cleveland Browns upsetting the Baltimore Ravens to make things easier in the division. The Pittsburgh Steelers got a win, but Cincinnati remains firmly in first place regardless.
News and Notes
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Getting the Ground Game Going
Whether by design or a result of game flow, the Bengals look like a pass-first team this year.
It's hard to complain given the results and Dalton's form, but offensive coordinator Hue Jackson and the rest of the staff seem to want to get back to their run-first ways. This includes an emphasis on Jeremy Hill, who has taken a back seat to Giovani Bernard after Week 1.
Jackson spoke with ESPN.com's Coley Harvey on the running woes:
"This is Year 2. I never said it was going to look exactly the same as it did last year. But I know we have to run the ball, and we will continue to run the ball. We're not ever going to shy away from that. We can run the ball better. But how we run it, whether it's two backs, one back, six backs, I don't care, we'll find a way.
"
In other words, the Bengals aren't too concerned about individual numbers, but expect to see more of the run soon when the schedule and situation call for it.
5-0 Means 'Nothing'
It sounds like the Bengals feel strongly about the undefeated start.
As in, it means nothing.
Strong description, right? It's the one defensive end Carlos Dunlap used when speaking with the Cincinnati Enquirer's Jim Owczarski about the start:
"It does not mean nothing. Weโve got to win our next football game. I donโt care what our record is right now. Weโve got another opponent coming up and theyโre just as important. No matter where we are right now, if we donโt finish, the start wonโt be remembered. Weโll be remembered how we wouldnโt finish.
"
Call it a strong lesson put on by the players, a core that has learned over the years that postseason results matter, nothing else. It's a veteran comment from one of the roster's leaders and surely one the coaching staff will continue to stress.
Banged-Up Bills
Normally, this spot would go to the Bengals, too, but the news surrounding Buffalo is much more important with the game on approach.
The Bills will be without starting back LeSean McCoy. Things don't sound too great for backup Karlos Williams, either. It also sounds like the team could be without starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor.
"I would not rule out Tyrod Taylor as starting this week although I know it's widely reported that that's the case," coach Rex Ryan said on SiriusXM NFL Radio, viaย Alex Marvez of FoxSports.com. "We'll see. That's a possibility but I certainly wouldn't count Tyrod Taylor out. He did finish the game this past week."
It's not the most encouraging bit of info, but it does sound like the Bills will get Sammy Watkins back at wideout.
Long story short: One way or another, the Bengals won't have to go against the full strength of Buffalo's attack. Given recent defensive woes, it's a good time for the unit to clean some things up.
Latest Injury News
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| Player | Position | Status |
Leon Hall | CB | DNP |
Marvin Jones | WR | LP |
Dre Kirkpatrick | CB | LP |
Andre Smith | OT | LP |
Adam Jones | CB | DNP |
Brandon Tate | WR | DNP |
Andrew Whitworth | OT | DNP |
Kevin Zeitler | OG | LP |
DNP: Did not practice
LP: Limited in practice
FP: Full practice
Courtesy of Bengals.com.
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Key Matchups
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Cincinnati Secondary vs. Buffalo Weapons
Against the Seahawks, the Bengals allowed big passing plays of 46, 30, 22, and 22 yards to receiving weapons.
Call it consistency of the worst kind, as blown assignments and missed tackles hurt the team for most of the game.
It can't happen again in Buffalo, no matter who lines up under center. If Watkins can go, he forms one of the league's most explosive one-two punches on the edges with Percy Harvin. It's a deep unit, too, considering Buffalo's top four receiving targets tout at least 11.5 yards per catch.
The team's leader in receiving? New tight end Charles Clay, who will challenge the secondary vertically and on intermediate routes.
If the Cincinnati defense cannot rise to the occasion, it's going to be a rough road trip.
Cincinnati Backs vs. Buffalo Defense
Jackson wants to get the ground game going, but it's easier said than done against the Buffalo defense.ย
The Bills hardly allow 80 rushing yards per game right now. The numbers might be deceptive thanks to a schedule free of elite rushers and the fact the secondary struggles so much to stop the pass, but it remains to be seen if a strong rushing attack can break the unit.ย
Hill and Bernard will have to try. The best counter to an explosive offense capable of exploiting a defense struggling with that very thing is a ball-control offense. If Hill can run with more confidence in a north-south manner and Bernard can catch frequent passes, Cincinnati can control the pace.ย
If not, the defense will have to be on the field longer than the team might prefer.ย
Matchup X-Factors
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Bills' X-Factor of the Week: Tyrod Taylor
The Bills have a backup quarterback in EJ Manuel who can get the ball out and manage an offense, but it's a less than desirable situation with perhaps both starting backs hurt.ย
If the Bills are to keep pace with what might be a high-scoring Cincinnati offense, Taylor needs to start under center. He's been a nice surprise this year, completing 70.1 percent of his passes with 1,097 yards, nine touchdowns and another two scores on the ground.
He's the type of multifaceted player Cincinnati struggles with, especially thanks to his ability to evade a rush and push the ball downfield with his legs or arm.
Buffalo loses much of its potency if Taylor cannot go.
Bengals' X-Factor of the Week: A.J. Greenย
Green's an X-factor most games, of course, but he's especially important against Buffalo.
For one reason or another, the Bills have been absolutely miserable against wideouts this year, letting anyone from Donte Moncrief to Julian Edelman to Rishard Matthews run wild on the unit for big days.
If Green can beat out surefire double-teams in Buffalo, it not only helps keep the offense moving, but it also opens things up for the other passing options and especially the backs. Cincinnati doesn't need a monster output from Green to win, but it does need his consistent presence on a peppering of targets to keep the Bills honest.
Of course, a monster game wouldn't hurt things.
Prediction: Cincinnati 28, Buffalo 21
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Whether the coaching staff likes it or not, the best avenue for victory in Buffalo this weekend might be through the air.ย
Look for the Bengals to get it done in this regard. Dalton and his wealth of options shouldn't have too many problems spreading the ball around and putting points on the board so long as they don't outthink themselves or get sloppy with turnovers.
The defense will have its issues with the Bills no matter who lines up under center. Most teams do. A few hiccups when it comes to tackling will keep this one close, although consistent pressure will force turnovers, too.
Look for the Bengals to win in a game that turns into a bit of a shootout late. The newfound clutch gene against an exploitable defense and injured offense will win the day.
Prediction: Cincinnati 28, Buffalo 21ย
Stats courtesy ofย NFL.comย and are accurateย as of October 14. All advanced metrics courtesy ofย Pro Football Focus.
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