Cincinnati Bengals: 4 bold predictions for Week 4 vs Pittsburgh
By Steve Rivera
While the Cincinnati Bengals have been all about big plays, the running game has left a lot to be desired. Joe Mixon was much better as the ground game finally found some footing. Mixon had 61 yards on 15 carries. Still, Cincinnati lost the time of possession battle 36:54 to 23:06.
That changes in Week 4. Pittsburgh struggled to contain the 49ers running game, as San Francisco racked up 168 yards on the ground, and won TOP, 37:17 to 23:45.
It’s not a meaningless stat, especially for a team like the Bengals. They haven’t had any consistent running game or the ability to sustain long drives. If Cincinnati is going to win football games, they’ll need a game plan offensively that is more diverse than long pass plays.
This is a good week for such a scenario. Pittsburgh is not what people thought they’d be. It is, for all practical purposes, a “new team” with Rudolph at quarterback. Cincinnati will have opportunities for that reason alone that only an inexperienced quarterback can present.
With one common opponent in San Francisco, an argument can be made that Pittsburgh looked better. The Steelers also played that game on the road with a young QB under center.
It’s a fair point. But in three weeks of play, both the Seahawks game and the 49ers game showed the best and worst of the Bengals. In Week 3, there was greater balance. If they can win the time of possession this week, they have a great chance to beat Pittsburgh.