With their backs now firmly against the wall, here are a few key matchups for the Bengals in their Week 4 battle against the Panthers.
If the Cincinnati Bengals were desperate for a win heading into their Week 3 Monday Night Football game, their situation heading into Week 4 is dire. The 0-3 Bengals aren’t mathematically eliminated from the postseason yet, and another loss, especially considering they haven’t played a division opponent, probably wouldn’t officially put the final nail in the coffin.
Unofficially, though, another loss for the Bengals would leave them facing a near-impossible climb, like summiting Mount Everest without oxygen, gear, or a guide. It’s not “impossible,” but about as improbable as something can get.
A win is the first step in the right direction. Another loss would be devastating.
Here are a few matchups in this do-or-die game for the Bengals.
Zac Taylor/Lou Anarumo vs. Andy Dalton
I don’t think it’s unreasonable to say that Dalton was underappreciated during his time in Cincinnati. He didn’t have the talent of Carson Palmer, whom he replaced, and he doesn’t have the talent of Joe Burrow, his replacement, but he still gave the Bengals a level of regular-season success that was unprecedented in franchise history.
Unfortunately, that regular-season success never translated over to a postseason win, and in the end, Dalton was famously benched on his birthday in his last season with the Bengals.
I’m sure he remembers that and is using it, like Bobby Boucher’s tackling fuel, and plans to punish a Bengals defense that has just been decimated by injuries. Without most of the starting defensive line, it’s going to come down to coaching to keep Dalton from being the second straight quarterback to light up the Bengals’ secondary like it’s the Fourth of July.
Joe Burrow vs. Nick Scott
You may or may not remember, but Scott was a part of the Bengals’ disaster at the safety position in the 2023 season. The idea was for Scott to replace Vonn Bell and Dax Hill would replace Jessie Bates.
It was a bad idea. Bates and Scott were a disaster, and the only silver lining to come out of the situation was the emergence of Jordan Battle.
Now Scott is one of the Panthers’ starting safeties, and while he may be looking for a measure of revenge, he’ll be facing off against one of the most potent passing attacks in the NFL.
Good luck.
Trey Hendrickson vs. Ikem Ekwonu
Hendrickson is a one-man wrecking crew when it comes to rushing the passer. The issue isn’t with him at all, it’s with the fact that he’s a “one-man” crew because he has zero help. Both starting defensive tackles are dealing with hamstring injuries, Myles Murphy is on IR, and Sam Hubbard, the opposite defensive end, is playing through a nasty hamstring injury.
So, unless there are some blitz packages installed for this week from Anarumo, knowing they have issues getting to the quarterback, it’s going to be Hendrickson versus Ekwonu the world.
Bengals secondary vs. Time to throw
The issue with a lack of a pass rush is even the best secondary can only cover NFL-caliber wide receivers for so long. Eventually, someone is going to get open. We saw it last week when Jayden Daniels had over two and a half seconds in the pocket to find a receiver several times. That may not sound like a long time, but when it comes to time in the pocket, or time for a cornerback or safety to stay on the hip of a receiver, it’s a lifetime.
If the Bengals can’t generate more pressure, whether it’s from someone stepping up on the defensive line or added rushers, the team’s corners, and safeties are going to be asked to lock down everyone for an extended period of time.
Historically, that has never been a winning strategy, especially when you’re playing against a quarterback looking to settle a score.
The Bengals vs. Themselves
The Bengals are a more talented team than the Panthers. Everyone knows that. Hell, even the Panthers know that. The Bengals should win this game. They have the better quarterback, the better weapons…. almost the better everything.
If they lose, it will likely come down to stupid mistakes and unforced errors. The Bengals may be in desperation mode, but they can’t play without thinking. Yes, they need to win, but they also need to keep their heads on straight while they do it. If they get too emotional or frustrated after a bad series or a mistake, being in the wrong headspace could cause them to make more.
What Shane Falco said about quicksand is real. Eventually, your mistakes pile up to the point you drown.
The Bengals can’t let that happen on Sunday.
