Cincinnati Bengals: Who wins and why in Week 2

The Cincinnati Bengals have a big opportunity to score their first win of the 2019 NFL season when they host the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 action.

Week 2 in the NFL can be significant for the Cincinnati Bengals. After a close loss in Seattle to open the season, the opportunity is ripe for a win against a San Francisco 49ers team who seems to be in ”wait and see mode” with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

You all remember Jimmy G. He was the guy tasked with lifting the fortunes in San Francisco. Yet after a season lost to an injury in 2018, a questionable preseason and a garden variety Week 1 win at Tampa, the jury is out.

Not to the same case in Cincinnati. The second game of the regular season is a second chance at getting a win. It’s also a big opportunity to build on the many positives, yes positives from their Week 1 loss. Had the Bengals cashed in when they were in the red zone last Sunday, they could be looking at a possible 2-0 start.

That’s just not the case.

The Bengals get a chance to get it right and get it done against the 49ers. They get a team on the road in back to back weeks and a quarterback who scares no one. On the other hand, Zac Taylor might have tapped into something. That ”something” being Andy Dalton and an offense who might just be getting going.

So who wins on Sunday?

Against Seattle, the obvious pick was the Seahawks. They have a Super Bowl-caliber quarterback in Russell Wilson and a top-flight defense season to season. They also have a veteran head coach in Pete Carroll who knows all the buttons to push for a win. Still, the Bengals didn’t just have chances, they dominated the stat sheet. If you had just landed on planet Earth from Mars, you would have thought Cincinnati was the playoff contender, not Seattle.

In Week 2, simply look at the critical positions and who has the advantage.

Does anyone think Garoppolo is the better quarterback than Dalton? The Niners have young talent on the offensive line and on defense, but Cincinnati has better personnel at the places you need it in an offensive-centric league. Also, keep in mind if Cincinnati gets ANY offensive line help for the running game, it changes everything for the Bengals.

And lastly, Kyle Shanahan has been a lot of promises not delivered. The eye test says he continues to make a living off of potential. While I readily concede Taylor is only coaching his second regular-season game, he has better talent on Sunday against the Niners. That in and of itself is the biggest factor for who wins and why.

Dalton has another big day and the Cincinnati run game finally gets off the ground. It’s close at halftime, but not at the end.

Cincinnati Bengals-29
San Francsico 49ers-13