Bengals vs. Lions Preseason Game Strategies & Preview
The Bengals will play their starters tonight as they aim to halt their usual early-season losing streaks. Head Coach Zac Taylor looks to shift that trend.
Video Transcript
Start with the, the Bengals and the Lions.
I mean, the Bengals line has moved a- you know, six, seven points since it, since it first opened.
And when you dive into what's going on with the Bengals, you're going, "Oh, I see."
So the Bengals are going to try and break the habit of being 0 and 4 by the time we get to October.
Well, how are they gonna do that?
Well, they're playing Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, T-hee.
They're playing all the starters for at least the first quarter here tonight, and then they're gonna give way to Joe Flacco and company here.
Meanwhile, you got the Lions.
Jared Goff has not taken a snap at a preseason game, I think since 2022.
So the likelihood of you seeing any of that, not going to happen.
In fact- Dan Campbell has already said you're probably not likely gonna see, anybody in this point, especially with some of the injuries to the offensive line they just have.
So we've got a classic case in this game right off the bat.
Huge line movement, the Bengals making it known, "We're taking the preseason seriously."
Lot of guys- gonna be taking more than just the first series, and you got Detroit going, "Yeah, we'll, we'll see you week one here."
Still don't know that I'm running to a window to lay six, but I get it.
I know why the market loves the Bengals in this spot.
Right, and I would say that when you look down the QB depth, which I know is a good starting point for a lot of people, Joe Flacco- All right, he's not the quarterback he once was, but at least he has it.
After that, Josh Johnson, who's been around for a while.
The Lions- Yep I, I believe they're gonna be starting Luke Altmyer, and- Yeah Joshua Dobbs is also on the roster.
And Dobbs hasn't been there too long.
You know, he's been around obviously more than Luke Altmyer, so he has, quote-unquote, more experience.
He's a veteran, if you, you wanna call it that.
But, you know, what are we actually dealing with with a banged up team when we're having Joe Burrow and the starters play ver- play versus the Lions backups essentially?
So again, I To your point, the line movement is what it is.
We all understand that.
But should we, should we be running to lay six and a half?
W- In that, could you look to a first half line potentially?
But- Yeah a full game line's a little bit different.
You gotta remember, players are still trying to make the roster.
It's not just like all said and done, like, "Oh, we know everything's set."
Like, there's still defensive players out there trying because they want a contract, they wanna make the roster.
That is important for all of these preseason games.
Yes, it is.
And, and again, my rule of thumb with a lot of these preseason games is find the quarterback match-ups here.
And- you will find no bigger match-up right now than Anthony Richardson versus Riley Leonard for the backup spot of the Colts.
Uh- Mm-hmm and bar- we know Anthony Richardson's starting, we know Riley Leonard is gonna be right behind him.
Both of these guys really, quite honestly, are showcasing their stuff.
I think Easton Stick is also somewhere in the mix there, and he's gotten plenty of snaps, under center- Mm-hmm as an NFL backup.
