Cincinnati Bengals: 3 things to watch vs. Packers in Week 5

In Week 5, the Cincinnati Bengals have a potential season-shifting game against the Green Bay Packers. With a win over Green Bay, the Bengals will firmly cement themself as a team that will win a fair amount of games this season and could contend for a playoff spot.

This Sunday’s skirmish is expected to be close, WynnBet has the Packers as a three-point favorite. Any spread that is around three points is essentially seen as a toss-up game. The fact Cincinnati has their home field advantage at Paul Brown Stadium certainly helps their chances.

Just like this Bengals team, the energy from the Who Dey faithful at home games has been different than years past.

As in any game, the Bengals and Packers matchup will have a handful of key areas to watch. Here are three things to keep tabs on during the game.

1. The turnover battle could make the difference

Whoever wins the turnover battle typically determines most games, especially the ones that are close contests. Turnovers were definitely a driving force for the Bengals’ comfortable win over Pittsburgh in Week 3. In addition, it was evident Cincy fell in Chicago thanks to four turnovers.

If the Bengals or Packers turn the ball over multiple times, they have a small shot of winning. As mentioned, Cincinnati’s sole loss had a lot to do with Joe Burrow throwing three interceptions. Logan Wilson snagging another pick or an edge-rusher coming up with a strip-sack would of course be massive in a close game with Green Bay.

There is not much room for error when you are playing elite quarterbacks in the NFL. Giving someone like Aaron Rodgers extra possessions and short fields would be devastating. On the flip side, the same can be said for the Packers with Burrow looking like a maestro leading the passing attack in the last two games.

Losing the turnover battle by one possession can be overcome quite easily, but being down by multiple turnovers cannot happen. This is a rather simple key to watch. However, some of the most competitive games will often come down to some simple factors like turnovers simply due to the extra possessions for offenses.

Both teams have good threats in their passing attack with good quarterback play. The turnover battle becomes even more prominent when facing dangerous offensive teams.

We haven’t quite seen the Bengal offense firing on all cylinders from start to finish yet, but the capability of doing so is still there. Obviously, Green Bay, led by Rodgers, is always a terror for opposing defenses.

Cincinnati cannot get behind in the turnover battle against the efficacious offense of Green Bay.