Bills vs. Bengals: 4 Adjustments Cincinnati Must Make

The game remained close for most of the first half until a couple of Andy Dalton interceptions rolled into a ball of momentum for the Bills.  

Can the Bengals come back and pull off the upset against the upstart Bills? Here are 5 things that need to happen:

1. Drown Out the Distractions

Spoiler Alert: The Bengals look distracted.  Off-the-field issues seemed to manifest themselves early in this game, as Cincinnati went away from the embattled Cedric Benson, and Andy Dalton only looked increasingly uncomfortable as the half wore on.

If they need to bench Benson to drown out the negativity, they should do it.  Bernard Scott is quite capable, as he proved in limited first-half action today. 

2. Avoid Silly Mistakes 

A couple of dropped passes on third down have snowballed for the Bengals.  With each new mistake by Andy Dalton, they're losing more and more confidence as a team.  Whatever Andy Dalton needs to do to channel the man who threw zero interceptions through the first two games, he needs to find that form in a hurry.  

4. Work the Rookie Mojo 

 Could rookie Andrew Hawkins, recently signed off the practice squad, be the fresh face the Bengals need to ignite the offense?  Cincinnati's first big play was a nifty catch and run by Hawkins, and perhaps they should go back to that to find some quick offense coming out of the locker room.

By getting Hawkins involved, the Bengals will be more flexible by keeping the Bills' defense honest, not allowing them to focus too much of their efforts on A.J. Green.  In whatever combination or whatever pattern, Cinci will need to ride the rookies to get back into this one.  

5. Mix Up the Looks on Offense 

Dalton is mobile enough to create opportunities for the offense.  The aforementioned rookies he has as weapons are untried, but deadly.  Early in the half, Buffalo got caught feeling out things too much, and used many predictable packages.  Cincinnati really only had success as a result of displaying creative run combinations, catching the Bills off-guard long enough to briefly open up the pass.

But a couple of late interceptions will only make Dalton more timid.  The Bills have his number right now, and the Cincinnati offense needs to get back to what was working before to have any chance.