Bengals vs. Raiders: Full Cincinnati Game Preview
The Cincinnati Bengals begin the quest for a fifth consecutive playoff appearance with a trap game out West against the Oakland Raiders.
Making the trip West is never an easy endeavor on its own, but the Raiders—on paper, at least—look like one of the league's surefire sleeper teams this year. Derek Carr is a talented sophomore signal-caller, rookie wideout Amari Cooper looks great so far and Khalil Mack is one of the league's top defenders.
Of course, the Bengals look great on paper as well, featuring droves of healthy weapons and a defense led by a rejuvenated Geno Atkins smack in the middle.
It's a late start Sunday, but an important one, as starting the season with a conference win would put the Bengals out in front of what looks like a rough schedule this year. Within, let's take a look at the most important details surrounding the contest.
Viewing Info
Location: O.co Coliseum, Oakland, California
Date: Sunday, September 13
Time: 4:25 pm ET
TV: CBS
News and Notes
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Michael Johnson's Status
The Bengals didn't waste much time this past offseason upgrading in the defensive trenches after the unit struggled to generate sacks last season.
Part of the upgrade came via bringing back Michael Johnson, who then went down with a knee sprain this preseason. He's back at practice, which is something Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com cited as a good sign:
"Right end Michael Johnson, who hadn’t practiced since spraining the MCL in his knee on Aug. 2, went on the field for practice Monday as the Bengals prep for Sunday’s opener (4:15 p.m.-Cincinnati’s Channel 12) in Oakland.
That may not be enough time to get Johnson ready, but at least it looks like it could be a game-time decision. It almost certainly means he’ll be ready for the home opener the next week when Paul Brown Stadium plays host to the Chargers in a 1 p.m. start.
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The Bengals need Johnson in the lineup against Oakland, to say the least. Wallace Gilberry is an adequate rotational piece, but Johnson gives the team an every-down starter who is strong against the run, freeing up others to move around.
Johnson's presence at practice is nothing short of a great sign.
Personal Touches
Sometimes the best games have a bit of a personal touch, which seems to be the case this weekend for Cincinnati offensive coordinator Hue Jackson.
If folks will recall, Jackson served as Oakland's head coach in 2011 right in the middle of a rebuild. The franchise fired him after the season, something he's of course being asked about in the week leading up to the game.
For Jackson, who said, "That was hard," about the firing, per ESPN.com's Coley Harvey, Oakland's growth since then poses his current team a threat:
"I think it speaks for itself what has gone on there. I don't have to say anything. It's been what it's been. I do think it's a very stable place now. [General manager] Reggie McKenzie and [coach] Jack [Del Rio] I'm sure are doing a fantastic job. They'll be up for the challenge this week. They want to play; we want to play.
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It's an interesting take, if not a true one. Jackson helped begin a solid turnaround for Oakland, which now stands in his way with his current team.
This was of always going to be one of the main topics before the contest, where Jackson will have a chance to encounter a familiar franchise.
Testing the Secondary
The Cincinnati secondary has been the recipient of much praise once the team cut the roster to 53 players, and for good reason.
Reggie Nelson and George Iloka form one of the league's better safety tandems, and the starting cornerback trio of Leon Hall, Adam Jones and Dre Kirkpatrick looks formidable. Darqueze Dennard, Josh Shaw and Chris Lewis-Harris make for great backups, as do high-upside safeties Derron Smith and Shawn Williams.
The depth will receive a serious test Sunday against a rejuvenated Michael Crabtree and the aforementioned Cooper.
Kirkpatrick, for one, is ready for the test, per Fox 19's Joe Danneman:
"Dre Kirkpatrick on what opener means: "Just send a message that we're tired of being overlooked...not by words, but by actions."
— Joe Danneman (@FOX19Joe) September 7, 2015"
Few better ways for the unit to prove itself exist than a season opener, so keep a close eye on the secondary.
Latest Injury News
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There isn't much in the way of surprise here as the Bengals look healthier than they have in years for a season opener.
| Player | Position | Status |
| Michael Johnson | DE | Questionable |
| Vontaze Burfict | LB | Out |
All Injury information courtesy of ESPN.com.
As detailed, Johnson is back at practice and an important part of the defense. It sounds more and more like he will wind up being a game-time decision. It's no surprise Vontaze Burfict pops up as out considering the team slapped him on the physically unable to perform list. Thanks to depth additions such as A.J. Hawk and P.J. Dawson, the defense should be able to work around his absence.
Key Matchups
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Cincinnati Bengals Line vs. Khalil Mack
Thanks to Andrew Whitworth posting perhaps the best year of his career and key performances from contributors such as Eric Winston down the stretch, the Bengals only allowed 21 sacks of Andy Dalton last year.
It's a number the team could inch closer to in a hurry if the Bengals let Mack run wild Sunday afternoon.
Mack, the fifth pick in the 2014 draft, ranked as the league's top 4-3 outside linebacker as a rookie at Pro Football Focus, recording four sacks, 10 quarterback hits and 40 hurries in the process.
Jackson put it best, per the Cincinnati Enquirer's Jim Owczarski:
"#Bengals OC Hue Jackson on #Raiders LB Khalil Mack: “He has spin moves, he has karate moves. The guy is a rolling ball of butcher knives."
— Jim Owczarski (@JimOwczarski) September 7, 2015"
With Whitworth on one edge and a healthy Andre Smith on the right side, the Bengals should be able to contain Mack. But just be forewarned that he's the sort of player who transcends a line and can change a game on his own.
Dre Kirkpatrick, Others vs. Amari Cooper
The Bengals decided to do away with the veteran approach at corner alongside starters Jones and Hall, allowing one of their former first-round picks to step into a starter role.
Said new starter is Kirkpatrick, he of intercepting Peyton Manning fame last year.
Kirkpatrick and the rest of the secondary will have their hands full with Cooper, who caught 124 passes for 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns last season at Alabama before being named one of three Heisman Trophy finalists.
While it came in an exhibition, Cooper put his pro-ready talent on display against a big-name corner in Patrick Peterson, as Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports captured.
With the gloves off, Cooper might be able to have an immediate impact. For Cincinnati, shutting him down and funneling the ball elsewhere or forcing the Raiders to run it will be one of the keys of the game.
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Matchup X-Factors
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Raiders X-Factor of the Week: RB Latavius Murray
One thing observers will notice about this preview is the lack of mention regarding Oakland's ground game.
Carr is a great young quarterback, and his weapons define the term "high upside," but the ground game wasn't so encouraging last year. As a whole, the Raiders only found the end zone via rushing four times last season. Four.
It's a one-dimensional look that just won't work against Cincinnati.
Latavius Murray is the man to watch. He carried it just 82 times last year for 424 yards and two scores, turning it on down the stretch as the coaching staff gave him more chances. Now he looks like the full-blown starter, and if he can balance Oakland's offense, the Bengals will have serious problems.
Bengals X-Factor of the Week: TE Tyler Eifert
It's almost a foregone conclusion that the Bengals will be able to run the ball, not because Oakland struggles, but because it's what the offense does best.
Passing, however, isn't a sure thing. Dalton can get rattled, and especially so if Mack starts to hit home on blitzes, meaning he's going to need a big-bodied, reliable target to hit in a hurry.
This is where Tyler Eifert comes into play. He caught all three of his targets in the opener last year before going down with a season-ending injury, and the globe watched as the Bengals struggled to move the ball through the air the rest of the season.
With Eifert on the field, the game will open up for others and it won't be so difficult to create separation. Even if he doesn't show up much on the stat sheet, Eifert's 6'6" and 250-pound presence and gigantic catch radius will keep the Raiders honest and the ball moving up and down the field.
Prediction: Cincinnati 27, Oakland 24
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This isn't going to be an easy trip for the Bengals.
Historically, the Bengals don't do well against the Raiders, although the two are in quite different stages of contention right now. Making the trip across the country isn't easy, and there's always the chance of early-season hiccups on both sides of the football.
Still, the Bengals are the more talented team on paper. This is especially the case in the trenches, where Jeremy Hill shouldn't have any issues keeping the chains moving. So long as Dalton takes care of the football, the offense will put up enough points to steal the road win.
The defense won't have it as simple, not with Cooper and others capable of burning a secondary that is sometimes prone to giving up the big play, something perhaps amplified this week. Carr will keep it close, but look for the Bengals to convert a late effort from kicker Mike Nugent to seal the deal.
Prediction: Cincinnati 27, Oakland 24
Stats courtesy of NFL.com and are accurate as of September 9. All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus.
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