(Photo: CBS Sports)
Intriguing Game- NFL, Week Eight
Cincinnati Bengals at San Francisco 49ers
Bengals: After the game against the Tennessee Titans, I remember saying it was time to worry because they hadn’t been looking like the juggernaut we’ve seen the last two years. When everything is clicking for them, they are one of the best offenses in the league and early on, they came out flat. It was almost as if Joe Burrow’s injury from training camp deflated this entire football team. You could definitely tell this was a bigger injury than reported because he was very limited and when he’s 100 percent, Joe is mobile enough to extend plays, but he has a nice ability to move in the pocket to evade blitzes and pressure. These last two weeks, they’ve been hitting their strides. In Arizona, everything came to life. That was the healthiest I’ve seen Joe look all year, Ja’Marr Chase showed why he’s always open and I’ve been saying in the words of Coach Prime, he ain’t hard to find. Against the Seahawks the following week, it wasn’t the prettiest game, but they had to grind through it with a gritty effort and it got them back to 500. In a division where the Steelers have been floating along, the Ravens aren’t going away anytime soon, the Browns have the best defense in the league (or one of the best), let’s not count the Cincinnati Bengals out. After all, this is still the team to beat in the division as they’ve won it the last two years. You take them down, you have a chance to make some noise and get somewhere. The bye week is over and the first of two tests is here. They will travel to Levi’s Stadium for a showdown with a struggling Kyle Shanahan 49ers team.
49ers: I’ve always called them the most physical team in the league which is why they always have success on the road come playoff time because that physical nature of football always travels no matter the weather. These last two weeks, the bully has received a taste of their own medicine. In Cleveland in week six, Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams and Deebo Samuel all went down with injuries. Also, the Browns put pressure on Brock Purdy from all angels and they simply beat the 49ers at their own game which is being more physical than them at the point of attack. Also in that game, they really missed Dre Greenlaw who is their best run stopping Linebacker. On Monday night against the Vikings, they turned the ball over three times and Kirk Cousins picked apart their secondary. That’s now two losses in a row after a 5-0 start in which people were calling them the best team in football. The 49ers have shown you they are human after all and if you really want to beat them, just dominate them up front and consistently win in the trenches and that’s exactly what the Browns and Vikings have each done. Everyone is celebrating because Brock has lost the first two games of his NFL career. I’ll say this and please understand what I’m about to say here. Most of the people celebrating his downfall would be in better shape over their current Quarterback because I can guarantee you they’d be silent if he were winning them games, but I digress. They will look to stop the bleeding of a two-game losing streak on Sunday with the Bengals coming to town.
Bengals X-Factor: DJ Reader– He’s an absolute monster on the interior of this Cincinnati Defensive Line. DJ is the anchor of this Bengals defense. Do you all remember years ago whenever I mentioned Akiem Hicks and how he commands many double and sometimes triple teams and when that happened, everyone else was able to roam around freely to the ball to make a play? The same can be said about DJ. He’s quick and runs downhill for a man of his size. This is who the 49ers must key in on.
49ers X-Factor: Fred Warner– This is the best Middle Linebacker in football and at this point, I don’t think it’s close. Fred is the closest thing I’ve seen to Brian Urlacher and when you’re being compared to a Hall of Famer, that’s saying something. It’s got to the point with Fred where he knows what play is being ran before the ball is even snapped. He’s so speedy and instinctive and even through traffic, Fred finds his way to the ball to make a tackle. He’s also able to drop back in coverage and make plays. This is an all around guy.
Final Thoughts: Both of these teams appear to be heading in different directions at this moment. The Niners are looking to snap this two-game skid while the Bengals are looking to win their third straight game after a 1-3 start to the season. I’ll be watching this 49ers pass rush against Joe Burrow and I say this because San Fran had a tough time getting home to P.J. Walker then last week against the Vikings, Kirk Cousins was untouched. Also, how 100 percent will Christian McCaffrey be? He’s been dealing with a lingering oblique injury. Brock Purdy is also in concussion protocol and Sam Darnold may potentially get the start. It’s key for the Bengals to use the quick passing game in this one because that is what helps neutralize a strong pass rush. They can’t get home to the Quarterback if the ball is already out of his hands. I’ll also point this out. If Kirk Cousins can torch this 49ers secondary, what makes you think Joe Burrow won’t do the same and we all know Joe is much better than Kirk is. The Bengals enter this game off the bye while the 9ers are on a short week with key pieces of the puzzle missing (Trent Williams and Deebo Samuel). I like the Bengals to pull away with one on the road in California here and finally get over 500.
Prediction: Bengals 24, 49ers 21
