NFL
The Cincinnati Bengals will face the Carolina Panthers in week 9 of the 2022 NFL Season
When: Sunday, November 6
Time: 1:00 pm
Network: FOX
By: Jalen Willingham
Offense
It was evident from the very first snap that Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense were in desperate need of Ja’Marr Chase on the football field. Burrow was off, the ball couldn’t move downfield, and the playcalling was just not good. No one had a good game. I genuinely thought that I was watching the 2019 Bengals out there.
This week versus Carolina, the Bengals offense will once again be challenged to produce without Ja’Marr Chase. Left tackle Jonah Williams showed last week that he is not the answer up front, and I worry again due to him and La’el Collins facing Brian Burns. Don’t be surprised if any of Carolina’s smaller-name guys have a big game as well. Just go ahead and write in at least two sacks given up. The running backs in pass protection need to be better as well. Joe Mixon had been terrible at it, and the Bengals need to fix that.
The Panthers secondary is also facing injuries just like the Bengals, with safeties Juston Burris out with a concussion, Jeremy Chinn still being out, and cornerback Donte Jackson dealing with an ankle injury. The starting safeties will be Xavier Woods and Myles Hartsfield. Cincinnati can’t play safe like they did a lot last week. I expect receivers Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd to have much better games this time around. I’m also interested in seeing who the Panthers will have Jaycee Horn guarding.
The Bengals need to somehow find a way to get an efficient running game going. With Chase out, I don’t want to see Burrow dropping back 40 times like he almost did last week. Give it to Joe Mixon, Samaje Perine or even Chris Evans. Get them all involved if you need to. As much as I hate to say it, there are just no excuses for the Bengals here. Everyone is dealing with injuries. Go out and execute.
Defense
Without a doubt, the Bengals defense had its worst game this season on Monday night versus the Browns. A blowout is never good, but the loss of cornerback Chidobe Awuzie for the year will hurt even more. Slot corner Mike Hilton will also miss this week’s game. Nose tackle D.j. Reader remains out.
The secondary will include outside corners Eli Apple and rookie Cam Taylor-Britt, and slot corners Jalen Davis, Vonn Bell, and Jessie Bates at the safety spots. Rookie first-round pick Daxton Hill will also rotate in at both cornerback and safety. The passing defense is now at an extreme disadvantage, and the Panthers would be idiots if they don’t incorporate that into their game plan.
The active vets need to step up. Logan Wilson, Germaine Pratt, Vonn Bell, and Bates need to be playmakers. Panthers quarterback P.J. Walker has looked pretty solid recently since taking over as the starter. Having Eli Apple on their top receiver D.J. Moore is a nightmare waiting to happen. It wouldn’t surprise me either if Terrace Marshall has a big game as well.
Carolina will be without running back Chuba Hubbard, so D’Onta Foreman will get the carries just like last week. The run game has to be slowed down to keep the Panthers from taking control of the game on the clock. The Bengals need to also slow down the passing game by causing pressure up front. Trey Hendrickson will be matched up with rookie left tackle Ikem Ekwonu who has given up just four pressures in the last five weeks. Both Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard need to have a great game.
Prediction
Bengals win 21-16
