I've been torn on this one with both teams 5-4 and the Bengals struggling coming out of the bye week the last couple of years. But I also think we haven't seen the team we'll see in the next eight weeks that we saw in the last two games. I think the Bengals bounce back in a game that can really set the tone for the second half and I think the guys know that.
The Joe Burrow of the last two weeks isn't the Joe Burrow we know and I think that's been affecting the defense a little bit. I think they clean that up and the defense will look more like they did in the first seven games and shore up their tackling issues. I just think we saw so much magic between Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase in the first half, I don't think that's gone anywhere and they're going to get that back.
THE EDGE: Burrow and Chase re-discover that first half chemistry and the defense responds in kind. BENGALS, 28-21
BONSIGNORE
The Henry Ruggs situation took a big piece of their offensive puzzle. They're feeling that loss right now. The offense we've seen without Henry looks a lot different than the two previous games, when they played as well as I can remember in my time covering the Raiders in the wins over the Eagles and Broncos.
But they haven't been able to get back to that level since the (Oct. 31) bye week and part of that is the loss of Henry, but they also haven't played clean football. Too many penalties. Too many turnovers. They keep shooting themselves in the foot and that's really the story of the last two games.
If they can get back to playing efficiently, staying away from the silly penalties and turnovers, they have a chance to beat anybody on their schedule. They are a pretty talented team. They've gone to Pittsburgh and won a game. They went to Denver and handled the Broncos really easily. It's not so much where they play and who they play so far this year. They beat the Ravens. What Raiders team shows up? The one that plays elite football and stays away from self-inflicted wounds? Finding that consistency has been the challenge.
THE EDGE: This is such an unpredictable NFL season. I just can't call it. I have to see it first. Not taking anything away from the Bengals. They're an ascending team as well. But the Raiders have shown they can play adequate defense when needed and they've moved the ball on just about everybody. If that's the team that shows up, I think the Raiders have the edge.
The Bengals need to be able to run the ball this week. They need to take some of the burden off Joe Burrow. I think some of the pressure and interceptions that we've seen in the last two games have seen Burrow taking a little too much on his own to try and jump-start the offense. I think getting running back Joe Mixon the ball and running back Chris Evans getting more involved in the offense will take some pressure off Burrow.
I also want to see Joe check down more to his running backs and you can see tight end C.J. Uzomah taking advantage of this Raiders defense. I think the Bengals have not fully utilized the tight ends and the running backs underneath and if he's fully healthy I'd like to see Evans get back to what he did in the Lions game.
As we've heard from cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and Mike Hilton, the Bengals secondary has a point to prove this week and I think they play much tighter and take care of Raiders tight end Darren Waller and handle the Raiders passing game.
THE EDGE: I see the Bengals putting up plenty of points and building a big halftime lead. The Raiders score late, but not enough. BENGALS, 31-26
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November 21, 2021 at 07:25PM
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Media Roundtable: Bengals Looking To Jump-Start Playoff Run In Vegas - Bengals.com
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