Cincinnati Bengals: 4 bold predictions for Week 5 versus the Cardinals

PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 30: Joe Mixon #28 of the Cincinnati Bengals carries the ball during the third quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on September 30, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 30: Joe Mixon #28 of the Cincinnati Bengals carries the ball during the third quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on September 30, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – SEPTEMBER 29: Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals looks to throw the ball while avoiding a sack in the back of the end zone by Rasheem Green #98 of the Seattle Seahawks during the first half at State Farm Stadium on September 29, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – SEPTEMBER 29: Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals looks to throw the ball while avoiding a sack in the back of the end zone by Rasheem Green #98 of the Seattle Seahawks during the first half at State Farm Stadium on September 29, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

The Cardinals won’t be particularly polished in Week 5. They may not be the better part of the 2019 season, but with Kyler Murray, the potential for big plays is significant.

That will make a difference on Sunday. The big-play potential at Paul Brown Stadium won’t be with the home team. That’s not to say a trick play doesn’t find its way into the game plan (more on that later), but while Murray and head coach Kliff Kingsbury are trying to figure it out, his running ability will allow some big things to happen on the field.

That will be difficult for the Cincinnati Bengals defense. It remains to be seen if the Cardinals take any cues from what happened in Week 4 when the Steelers managed to use a variety of short passes to move the football. The Steelers deployed a “death by 1,000 cuts” to assist Mason Rudolph. It also worked in the 27-3 Monday night win.

If it boils down to playmakers, this may be the one advantage Arizona has. While the Bengals don’t have any, the Cardinals have two in Larry Fitzgerald and Murray. In Week 5, while the Bengals struggle to essentially reboot, Murray might be able to make the big plays to give Arizona the best chance.