Tonight, the Cincinnati Bengals will square off with the Chicago Bears in some Week 3 preseason action.
Coming off an outstanding outing in New York followed by a disastrous loss to Tampa, this Bengals team has been streaky. Tonight, Bengals coaches (and fans) will be looking for consistency, mental toughness and execution from their players. Last week?s loss to the Buccaneers was riddled with plays that just can?t happen, ie. missed tackles, dropped passes, a fumble and several mental errors.
Here are three matchups to watch in tonight?s outing. Keep in mind, this is just preseason play; the preseason is no time for panic.
1. A.J. Green vs. Himself
Last week, it was evident that A.J. Green was not mentally prepared for the Bengals? matchup with the Buccaneers. He made a couple of good catches but memorably dropped an easy catch into Alterraun Verner?s hands. (Verner then returned the interception for a touchdown).
A.J. Green, however, is better than his performance in Tampa indicates. He?s the best wide receiver in the AFC North and one of the best in the NFL.
And last time A.J. suited up against the Bears, he absolutely torched them. Despite Cincinnati?s efforts coming up just short when it faced Chicago in a 24-21 Week 1 loss in 2013, Green exploded for nine catches, 162 yards and two touchdowns. He burned Pat Tillman on two plays, a 42-yard catch down the sideline and a play in which Green drew a 30+ yard pass interference call on Tillman.
However, just like Green?s performance in Tampa, he had a few bad plays against the Bears back in 2013.
Dalton threw two interceptions while targeting Green, both going to Charles Tillman. In addition, Tim Jennings forced a fumble by Green; despite the fumble going out of bounds, it was a huge scare for Bengals fans.
Green needs to prove that he?s a consistent player, and he should be able to do this against a questionable Bears secondary featuring sophomore corner Kyle Fuller, veteran corner Tim Jennings, former Giants safety Antrel Rolle and sophomore safety Brock Vereen.
Despite the unit?s upside, Green is much better than all four of these players featured in Chicago?s secondary; he should be able to burn them on at least a play or two this game. Here?s to hoping that Green proves to be mentally tough and responds to last week?s dud with some solid play.
2. Carlos Dunlap vs. Kyle Long
As we learned when hearing from Bear Goggles On editor Mike ?Boomer? Burzawa, Kyle Long may be moving from right guard to right tackle. This provides an intriguing matchup on both sides of the ball. Primarily, it will be interesting as an NFL viewer to see how Kyle Long holds up at right tackle. He is one of the highest-regarded offensive linemen in football, a player that NFL Media Analyst Daniel Jeremiah called the best offensive guard in football on an episode of his Move the Sticks podcast just a couple of weeks ago.
Pitting Kyle Long against Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap should provide an exciting matchup. Although Dunlap is a relatively inconsistent player, he can still get the job done. Dunlap is one of the most exciting players on the Bengals defense; he recorded eight sacks last season and has 35.5 career sacks in just five seasons (with only 33 career starts).
This matchup will not only give NFL fans an insight into whether or not one of the league?s premier offensive linemen can make the transition from guard to tackle, it will give Bengals fans an insight into whether or not Dunlap shows up to play against one of the best players in the business.
3. Jay Cutler vs. Bengals Secondary
Andy Dalton and A.J. Green may be two of the league?s most frustrating players, but neither player will be the most frustrating player to watch tonight?that title belongs to Jay Cutler.
Jay Cutler is one of the NFL?s most scrutinized players, notably for his tendency to throw interceptions (130 career picks in 119 games) and poor body language. Cutler often makes huge mistakes, walks to the sidelines and appears disinterested or indifferent.
And Cincinnati?s secondary should be eager to play the interception-throwing machine. Last time these two teams squared off, Vontaze Burfict picked off Cutler; he should throw at least one interception tonight.
And with the two teams likely playing their starters for the entire first half and possibly longer, players like Dre Kirkpatrick and George Iloka have the chance to prove that they can be difference-makers against the pass. Because despite Cincinnati?s 20 defensive interceptions in 2014, the team?s young defensive backs still need to prove that they can catch passes rather than just bat them down. Kirkpatrick and Iloka have both made some key interceptions during their respective careers, but the two players have a chance to truly break out in the 2015 regular season. A pick by either player tonight could give Bengals fans just a little bit more hope about the team?s defensive success, something Cincinnati needs to return to the playoffs.
Coming off an outstanding outing in New York followed by a disastrous loss to Tampa, this Bengals team has been streaky. Tonight, Bengals coaches (and fans) will be looking for consistency, mental toughness and execution from their players. Last week?s loss to the Buccaneers was riddled with plays that just can?t happen, ie. missed tackles, dropped passes, a fumble and several mental errors.
Here are three matchups to watch in tonight?s outing. Keep in mind, this is just preseason play; the preseason is no time for panic.
1. A.J. Green vs. Himself
Last week, it was evident that A.J. Green was not mentally prepared for the Bengals? matchup with the Buccaneers. He made a couple of good catches but memorably dropped an easy catch into Alterraun Verner?s hands. (Verner then returned the interception for a touchdown).
A.J. Green, however, is better than his performance in Tampa indicates. He?s the best wide receiver in the AFC North and one of the best in the NFL.
And last time A.J. suited up against the Bears, he absolutely torched them. Despite Cincinnati?s efforts coming up just short when it faced Chicago in a 24-21 Week 1 loss in 2013, Green exploded for nine catches, 162 yards and two touchdowns. He burned Pat Tillman on two plays, a 42-yard catch down the sideline and a play in which Green drew a 30+ yard pass interference call on Tillman.
However, just like Green?s performance in Tampa, he had a few bad plays against the Bears back in 2013.
Dalton threw two interceptions while targeting Green, both going to Charles Tillman. In addition, Tim Jennings forced a fumble by Green; despite the fumble going out of bounds, it was a huge scare for Bengals fans.
Green needs to prove that he?s a consistent player, and he should be able to do this against a questionable Bears secondary featuring sophomore corner Kyle Fuller, veteran corner Tim Jennings, former Giants safety Antrel Rolle and sophomore safety Brock Vereen.
Despite the unit?s upside, Green is much better than all four of these players featured in Chicago?s secondary; he should be able to burn them on at least a play or two this game. Here?s to hoping that Green proves to be mentally tough and responds to last week?s dud with some solid play.
2. Carlos Dunlap vs. Kyle Long
As we learned when hearing from Bear Goggles On editor Mike ?Boomer? Burzawa, Kyle Long may be moving from right guard to right tackle. This provides an intriguing matchup on both sides of the ball. Primarily, it will be interesting as an NFL viewer to see how Kyle Long holds up at right tackle. He is one of the highest-regarded offensive linemen in football, a player that NFL Media Analyst Daniel Jeremiah called the best offensive guard in football on an episode of his Move the Sticks podcast just a couple of weeks ago.
Pitting Kyle Long against Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap should provide an exciting matchup. Although Dunlap is a relatively inconsistent player, he can still get the job done. Dunlap is one of the most exciting players on the Bengals defense; he recorded eight sacks last season and has 35.5 career sacks in just five seasons (with only 33 career starts).
This matchup will not only give NFL fans an insight into whether or not one of the league?s premier offensive linemen can make the transition from guard to tackle, it will give Bengals fans an insight into whether or not Dunlap shows up to play against one of the best players in the business.
3. Jay Cutler vs. Bengals Secondary
Andy Dalton and A.J. Green may be two of the league?s most frustrating players, but neither player will be the most frustrating player to watch tonight?that title belongs to Jay Cutler.
Jay Cutler is one of the NFL?s most scrutinized players, notably for his tendency to throw interceptions (130 career picks in 119 games) and poor body language. Cutler often makes huge mistakes, walks to the sidelines and appears disinterested or indifferent.
And Cincinnati?s secondary should be eager to play the interception-throwing machine. Last time these two teams squared off, Vontaze Burfict picked off Cutler; he should throw at least one interception tonight.
And with the two teams likely playing their starters for the entire first half and possibly longer, players like Dre Kirkpatrick and George Iloka have the chance to prove that they can be difference-makers against the pass. Because despite Cincinnati?s 20 defensive interceptions in 2014, the team?s young defensive backs still need to prove that they can catch passes rather than just bat them down. Kirkpatrick and Iloka have both made some key interceptions during their respective careers, but the two players have a chance to truly break out in the 2015 regular season. A pick by either player tonight could give Bengals fans just a little bit more hope about the team?s defensive success, something Cincinnati needs to return to the playoffs.
