By: Jalen Willingham
The Cincinnati Bengals will face the Buffalo Bills in primetime for Monday Football in week 17 of the 2022 NFL Season
When: January 2, 2023
Where: ESPN
Offense
It’s a showdown in Buffalo on Monday night as the Cincinnati Bengals take on the high-powered Bills. Both teams are on big win streaks. The Bengals offense got off to a hot start against the Patriots, but nearly let the game slip away. Every turnover will hurt against Buffalo. They’ll need to be more consistent against the Bills, who are a Super Bowl-caliber team with quarterback Josh Allen leading the charge.
Offensively, the Bengals will rely on quarterback Joe Burrow to carry the load. Tight end Hayden Hurst will also be returning to the field after missing time, giving Burrow even more weapons to work with. The Bills defense is strong against the run, so expect the Bengals to rely on the pass to move the ball down the field. Safety Jordan Poyer is questionable with a knee injury. This is definitely something to watch for the Bengals offense. This game could turn into a shootout, so the Bengals will need to pick apart the defense and force Allen to respond.
The Bengals will be without right tackle La’el Collins for the rest of the season due to a torn ACL and MCL, putting their offensive line at a disadvantage. Isaiah Prince and Hakeem Adeniji will step in to fill the void, with Prince getting the start. The Bills defense is strong, with 39 sacks on the season, so keeping the Buffalo pass rush under control will be key for the Bengals.
Defense
Defensive end Sam Hubbard is slowly working his way back but will still be questionable come Monday night. This game will feature the reunion of former Wyoming teammates Logan Wilson of Cincinnati and Josh Allen for the Bills. They have both truly come a long way.
Defensively, the Bengals will need to contain Josh Allen, who is a dual threat as both a passer and a runner. He’s the Bills’ second-leading rusher with 746 yards and can break off big gains if given the chance. His 6’5 240 pound frame makes him difficult to tackle as well. The Bengals defense stood tall on the goal line against the Patriots, and they’ll need to do the same against the Bills. Having a solid pass rush just like last week could help a lot as well.
In the secondary, Eli Apple and rookie Cam Taylor-Britt will need to contain Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis. Allen has shown a tendency to be turnover prone, especially against teams that run a heavy zone defense like the Bengals. If Cincinnati can force at least one turnover, it could sway the game in their favor.
Prediction
This is the most anticipated Monday night game of the year, with the AFC’s top seed on the line. These are two evenly matched-teams. It could come down to the wire, so don’t be surprised if these teams meet again in the playoffs.
Bills win 34-31
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