Bills vs Bengals: Preview

The Buffalo Bills take on the Cincinnati Bengals for the first time since losing to them in the AFC Divisional Round last season. The Bills are coming off of a win against the Buccaneers on Thursday night and will try to keep the ball moving on Sunday night against the Bengals. 

Most sportsbooks have the Cincinnati Bengals as the betting favorites heading into Sunday night’s game against the Bills. 

The Bengals are coming off of a tremendous win over the San Francisco 49ers, beating them 31-17. Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow passed for over 280 yards and threw for 3 touchdowns. Bengals running back Joe Mixon got going as well, rushing for 87 yards and getting a rushing touchdown. Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase led the Bengals in receiving yards with 100 and tacked on a touchdown reception. 

The Bills themselves are coming off of a good win on Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in which Josh Allen threw for over 320 yards and threw for 2 touchdowns. Wide receiver Khalil Shakir led the Bills in receiving yards with 92 yards off 6 receptions. Wide receiver Gabe Davis was also a huge piece in the Bills win, finishing with 87 yards and a touchdown. 

The Bengals are holding opposing team’s wide receivers to a 70.0 rate which ranks 3rd in the league, according to the NFL. As for tight end’s the Bengals are very lenient, allowing a 120.4 rate to TE’s which ranks 31st in the league, according to the NFL. Bills rookie tight end Dalton Kincaid will look to have a very big game after coming off of a good performance against the Buccaneers where he had 65 receiving yards off 5 receptions and catching his first NFL touchdown. 

The Bengals defense allows 4.5 yards per carry to opposing running backs which ranks 26th in the NFL. Bills running back James Cook will look to use the Bengals poor run defense to his advantage and have himself a good game. 

While the Bengals run defense isn’t the best, the Bills run defense is worse, allowing 4.8 yards per carry to opposing running backs which ranks 30th in the NFL. Joe Mixon will look to have another good week against the Bills lackluster run defense. 

As for Buffalo’s passing game, the Bills tackle’s, Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown will face tough opponents. Left tackle Dion Dawkins will have to face Trey Hendickson who has 8 sacks already on the year, on the other side right tackle Spencer Brown will face Sam Hubbard who has 25 solo tackles and 4 sacks on the season. 

The Bills secondary will be facing a very good Bengals passing game on Sunday night but the Bills have newly acquired cornerback Rasul Douglas who the Bills hope will help shut down the Bengals. 

The Buffalo Bills will go into Cincinnati to play the Bengals in week 9 and will seek to beat them after previously losing to them in the playoffs a season ago.