The Cincinnati Bengals (11-4) take on the Buffalo Bills (12-3) on Monday night at Paycor Stadium for one of the most anticipated games of the NFL season.
With the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC on the line, both teams have a lot at stake. Cincinnati is on a seven-game winning streak and Buffalo has won six in a row.
Cincinnati and Buffalo have stars at quarterback, wide receiver, and talented defensive players on every level. This game will feature intriguing matchups all over the field.
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Here’s how the Bengals beat the Bills on Monday night:
Let Joe Burrow run the show for the Bengals
The Bills are going to be hard to run the ball on – it’s that simple. Buffalo has been one of the league’s best in stopping the run. Their defensive front that features Greg Rousseau, Ed Oliver, Shaq Lawson and linebacker Matt Milano will make it hard for Cincinnati to gain anything on the ground.
Cincinnati’s best weapon and the main reason they’ve won seven straight is Joe Burrow. The Bengals should ride with him throughout the game. He’s playing at an elite level from an accuracy standpoint and will have all of his weapons back on the field.
Wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd and tight end Hayden Hurst will all be healthy and ready to play. Even though Buffalo’s defense has high quality players at every level, the Bengals have more talent on offense.
The Bengals will have to protect well, though. Buffalo ranks No. 11 in sacks (39) this year but is without Von Miller, their pass rush certainly isn’t the same. Against the Patriots last week, Burrow attempted 52 passes.I’d imagine the Bengals follow a similar recipe on Monday night and put the ball in Burrow’s hands as much as possible.
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Contain Bills quarterback Josh Allen
Cincinnati’s defense hasn’t seen a player with Allen’s skillset this year. Allen has thrown for 4,029 yards and 32 touchdowns. He’s added 746 yards on the ground and rushed for seven touchdowns.
Bengals’ defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo explained tackling Allen is similar to tackling a tight end. That’s what his players were practicing all week. Allen is 6-foot-5 and 237 pounds and is difficult to bring to the ground, especially at full speed.
“There’s a reason why he’s always in the MVP talk,” Anarumo said this week. “And he’s a great player.”
The fewer explosive plays Allen creates with his feet, the better chances for the Bengals to win.
Keep creating turnovers on defense
The Bengals have won their last two games against the Bucs and Patriots thanks to the turnovers their defense has created.
Cincinnati’s defense has played well all season, but this unit has taken the next step recently.
Safeties Vonn Bell and Jessie Bates have a knack for making plays at big moments. Linebacker Germaine Pratt is having a career year in terms of making splash plays. Defensive linemen DJ Reader and BJ Hill continue to make their names known at the line of scrimmage.
The Bengals have forced 20 takeaways this season, good for No. 9 in the NFL. Allen has been susceptible to throwing interceptions as he ranks No. 2 in the NFL in interceptions with 13.
If the Bengals win the turnover margin on Monday night, there’s a high probability they win.
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