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4 key matchups to watch in Bengals vs. Falcons
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- 4 key matchups to watch in Bengals vs. Falcons
The Cincinnati Bengals will be playing the Atlanta Falcons in Madrid, Spain, this week. The Bengals are coming off a 43-36 victory against the Tennessee Titans, while the Falcons lost 16-0 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers did not complete a pass during the game, and yet still won by double digits in a rain-soaked contest.
Even with that loss this past week, the 3-5 Falcons are not a team to take lightly. They have victories over the Packers, Saints, and the 49ers this season. They also have one-score losses against the Steelers, Ravens, and Bears. They will be getting back their best pass rusher, James Pearce Jr., this week also. He is coming off an 8-game suspension he served for violating the NFL's conduct policy.
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Orlando Brown Jr. vs. James Pearce Jr.
With the aforementioned Pearce coming off of his suspension, he is listed as the starter at right outside linebacker in the Falcons' 3-4 defense. That means he is likely to face off against Orlando Brown Jr. this week. Brown struggled at times on Sunday when faced off against the speedier pass rush of Jacob Martin. He will see a similar test with the athletic Pearce this week.
Orlando Brown Jr. allowed a season-high 6 pressures versus Tennessee. He was also credited with allowing a sack. Brown will have to play much better this week against Pearce. Last season Pearce produced at an elite level for a rookie. He finished the season with 45 pressures and 10.5 sacks for the Falcons. The Bengals will need to keep Pearce and the rest of a dynamic Falcons pass rush in check this week.
Bijan Robinson vs. The Bengals Defense
Slowing down Bijan Robinson is going to take a full team effort. While it will be up to everyone to try and limit him this week, I am specifically curious to see how Barrett Carter, Demetrius Knight Jr., and Jordan Battle play. Those three players have struggled with missed tackles the last couple of seasons. Robinson is one of the most dynamic and elusive running backs in the league. He can make guys look absolutely silly out in space, and that trio will have to play sound football. If they don't, we are going to see them all over the Bijan Robinson highlight reel.
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Bijan already has 780 rushing yards on the season. Toss in another 203 receiving yards, and he is about to eclipse 1,000 all-purpose yards already this season. The best running back in the league rushed for over 1,400 yards last season. He also finished the year with over 800 receiving yards. A player who can absolutely put the Falcons team on his back at times.
If the Bengals' effort against the run looks like it did on the long Tony Pollard touchdown run this past week, they are going to be in for a long day in Spain.
Kyle Pitts vs. TBD
I have no idea what the Bengals will plan on doing this week against Kyle Pitts at tight end. While Pitts hasn't had the career many expected, he is still a dynamic receiving threat for the Falcons. Add in the fact that the Bengals cannot stop a tight end at all again this season, and Pitts could be in for a career game this week. The Bengals allowed Gunnar Helm and Daniel Bellinger to grab eight receptions for 112 yards this past week against the Titans.
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I am never really sure what their plan for guarding tight ends is on a weekly basis. Jordan Battle made a couple of plays guarding tight ends, but most of the game we were just seeing guys completely wide open down the field at the position. I put it to be determined here because I don't know why they won't give Tacario Davis more of a chance to guard tight ends. I think that role would be DJ Ivey, but he has been thrust into starting at corner after the injury to Jalen Davis.
Regardless of who ends up being responsible for guarding Kyle Pitts this week, I am fully expecting him to put up a hugely productive game.
Dexter Lawrence vs. Ryan Neuzil
Neuzil and the rest of the Falcons interior offensive line will be tasked with trying to stop the unstoppable in Bengals defensive tackle Lawrence this week. Lawrence is coming off a week with 7 tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery. Lawrence is playing at an elite level this season, and now has 24 pressures and 5 sacks through his first 7 games of the year.
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Neuzil has allowed just 6 total pressures and 1 sack this season for Atlanta. However, Dexter Lawrence is a completely different animal to face. Neuzil will get help from Matthew Bergeron at left guard and Chris Lindstrom at right guard on Lawrence during this game, as well. Bergeron has allowed just 8 pressures with 0 sacks this season, while Lindstrom has allowed only 6 pressures and 1 sack. That interior offensive line has held up pretty well, but the Bengals are one of the toughest matchups to date for those guys. It should be a really fun matchup throughout the day.
