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Cincinnati Bengals: 3 reasons Week 3 at Buffalo could be the biggest game of the year

By Steve Rivera

CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 15: A Cincinnati Bengals fan is seen during the first half against the San Francisco 49ers at Paul Brown Stadium on September 15, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 15: A Cincinnati Bengals fan is seen during the first half against the San Francisco 49ers at Paul Brown Stadium on September 15, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OH – SEPTEMBER 15: Tyler Eifert #85 of the Cincinnati Bengals is tackled by K’Waun Williams #24 of the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter of the game at Paul Brown Stadium on September 15, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – SEPTEMBER 15: Tyler Eifert #85 of the Cincinnati Bengals is tackled by K’Waun Williams #24 of the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter of the game at Paul Brown Stadium on September 15, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /

Fans locked into believing the Bengals are a playoff team based on everything from week to week percentages to sheer fandom are missing what’s important in Week 3. Cincinnati needs to clear things up for fans as a whole: are they closer to what was seen in Seattle or what was seen against the Niners?

Based on Week 1, it’s hard to believe the Bengals are as bad as what fans saw in the home opener in Week 2. That said, it does confirm what many “in the know” said about Cincinnati. Those who don’t bleed orange and black pointed out a questionable offensive line and a defense that might not have improved from 2018. What fans saw at Paul Brown Stadium was what they saw last season.

For those who say the Bengals are closer to what they were in Week 1 need to remember that Opening Day is the single greatest charade in the NFL. No one of significance plays in the preseason anymore.

No one.

Pinning potential and logic on a possible fluke performance the first week of the NFL season is no way to assess how good or bad the Bengals are. If they go to western New York and win or at least lose close, then maybe.

Fans will know who the Bengals are this week. A win and Week 2 looks like a bad Sunday. A loss is an affirmation that the rebuild needs to happen sooner rather than later.

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