Post by Funkytown on Sept 9, 2021 10:27:35 GMT -6
MINNESOTA VIKINGS @ CINCINNATI BENGALS (+3)
Matchup to watch: Bengals interior offensive line vs. Vikings interior defensive line
Minnesota struggled to defend the run last season, but their run defense received sizable reinforcements in opt-out-return Michael Pierce and free-agent acquisition Dalvin Tomlinson this offseason. Both players rank in the 84th percentile or better among interior defenders in run-defense grade since 2017. Sheldon Richardson also returns to Minnesota to add an additional pass-rushing presence on the interior.
Those big bodies will look to attack the weak point of Cincinnati’s offense from guard to guard. Quinton Spain, Trey Hopkins and Xavier Su’a-Filo combined for a 60.4 PFF grade in 2020, and the Bengals are hoping for stable play from the veterans as Joe Burrow works his way back from injury.
Biggest storyline: Can Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase shake off preseason rust?
Burrow and Chase were supposed to produce fireworks this season, reunited after a historic run in 2019 at LSU. Instead, they’ve produced the wrong variety of headlines heading into the year between concerns about Burrow’s level of comfort in the pocket early in training camp and Chase’s hands. Drops aren’t the most stable statistic, but four drops on five preseason targets are enough to raise some red flags.
The hope is that those concerns are left in the preseason. Burrow and Chase connected on 24 passes thrown 20 or more yards downfield at LSU in 2019, 15 more than Burrow completed overall as a rookie last year in Cincinnati. The Bengals need more of that downfield element in their passing offense this season if they want to compete in a tough AFC North.
The current over/under for this game is 47.5
Matchup to watch: Bengals interior offensive line vs. Vikings interior defensive line
Minnesota struggled to defend the run last season, but their run defense received sizable reinforcements in opt-out-return Michael Pierce and free-agent acquisition Dalvin Tomlinson this offseason. Both players rank in the 84th percentile or better among interior defenders in run-defense grade since 2017. Sheldon Richardson also returns to Minnesota to add an additional pass-rushing presence on the interior.
Those big bodies will look to attack the weak point of Cincinnati’s offense from guard to guard. Quinton Spain, Trey Hopkins and Xavier Su’a-Filo combined for a 60.4 PFF grade in 2020, and the Bengals are hoping for stable play from the veterans as Joe Burrow works his way back from injury.
Biggest storyline: Can Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase shake off preseason rust?
Burrow and Chase were supposed to produce fireworks this season, reunited after a historic run in 2019 at LSU. Instead, they’ve produced the wrong variety of headlines heading into the year between concerns about Burrow’s level of comfort in the pocket early in training camp and Chase’s hands. Drops aren’t the most stable statistic, but four drops on five preseason targets are enough to raise some red flags.
The hope is that those concerns are left in the preseason. Burrow and Chase connected on 24 passes thrown 20 or more yards downfield at LSU in 2019, 15 more than Burrow completed overall as a rookie last year in Cincinnati. The Bengals need more of that downfield element in their passing offense this season if they want to compete in a tough AFC North.
The current over/under for this game is 47.5
