Tag: Spectrum News Staff

CINCINNATI — Zac Taylor said he didn’t envision many changes to the Cincinnati Bengals’ offensive game plan when Jake Browning took over for injured star quarterback Joe Burrow.

Based on the first two weeks without Burrow, the seventh-year coach needs to pivot.

The Bengals were dominated for a second straight week as Denver rolled to a 28-3 victory on Monday night. Cincinnati was beaten 48-10 a week earlier at Minnesota; that’s a 76-13 differential over the last two games.

“Offensively, we’re just not creating enough momentum to put points on the board, put pressure on the other team, to get our defense a rest,” Taylor said.

Cincinnati (2-2) has had 23 possessions the last two games with nine ending in three-and-outs. The only sign of progress Monday night was that the Bengals didn’t commit a turnover after having five against the Vikings.

Ja’Marr Chase had 14 catches in the Bengals’ Week 2 win over Jacksonville, but has been held to 12 receptions in the other three games combined.

Chase, who had five catches for 23 yards, was frustrated on the sideline during the second half and was talking with Taylor.

Tee Higgins has only 10 receptions in four games.

“It’s hard knowing the type of offense we have, knowing the type of weapons we have in the backfield, outside, and at tight end,” Chase said. “We know we’re capable, we know the ins-and-outs of the offense. We know we’re a downfield-threat team and everybody else knows it but right now, we’re facing a little adversity, and we got to figure it out.”

Denver blitzed Browning on just four of 29 dropbacks, but generated three sacks and nine pressures when rushing four or fewer.

Chase Brown had 40 yards rushing, but the Bengals are often behind the chains because they have to rely on the passing game. On third down, they had an average of 8 yards to go and converted just 2 of 11.

“I think any time you are struggling or not doing well on offense, there’s a lot that goes into it. I think for me, my focus is on my role in that which is dropping back, making sure I’m making good decisions and to continue to move the ball forward,” said Browning, who completed 14 of 25 passes for 125 yards. “Finding a way to be more explosive, put up more points, sustain more drives, to be better on third down. Just play better offense in general.”

With Detroit, Green Bay and Pittsburgh as their next three opponents, the Bengals need a quick fix.

What’s working

Red-zone defense. Demetrius Knight Jr.’s interception in the third quarter was the second time this season the Bengals got a pick in the end zone, and the fourth time this season Cincinnati hasn’t allowed an opponent to score after getting inside the red zone.

What needs help

Avoiding penalties. The Bengals were flagged 11 times for 65 yards, including six for 35 yards in the second quarter when they fell behind 21-3. That was the 11th time since 2000 they have had at least six penalties in a quarter.

Stock up

Knight tied for the team lead with 10 tackles and came up with his first NFL interception, picking off a pass in the end zone during the third quarter. The rookie linebacker, who was taken in the second round of the draft, is second on the team with 31 tackles.

Stock down

CB Cam Taylor-Britt, who allowed a pair of third-down receptions by Courtland Sutton in the second quarter on a Broncos TD drive. Those catches resulted in 41 yards.

Injuries

WR Charlie Jones sprained his right ankle in the second half. DE Shemar Stewart was inactive for the second straight game with an ankle injury.

Key number

238 — Yards after the catch allowed by the Bengals against the Broncos, the second-most allowed by any team in a game this season. Dallas gave up 260 against Green Bay on Sunday.

What’s next

The Bengals host the Detroit Lions, who have won three straight after dropping their opener, on Sunday. Cincinnati has won 10 of the 13 in the series, including seven straight.

CINCINNATI — Both the Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos are trying to tap into a key offensive power source when they square off Monday night in the Mile High City.

Wide receiver Tee Higgins is off to a slow start after signing a four-year, $115 million contract extension with the Bengals (2-1) last spring with just seven catches for 104 yards in three games.

“I know it’s going to come my way,” Higgins said. “I’ve always been like that. When the ball comes my way, I’ve just got to make a play on it. I’ve got to take advantage of every opportunity I get.”

That’s exactly how tight end Evan Engram feels.

Engram was one of Denver’s big free agent signings last offseason and was billed as the coveted “ joker ” in coach Sean Payton’s offense, the versatile playmaker who can exploit matchups in the middle of the field.

Yet, Engram had three catches on four targets in the opener and just two targets and one catch in and Week 2, tallying a total of just 33 yards with no touchdowns. He missed last week’s loss to the Chargers with a bad back.

Engram was a full participant in practice all week and Payton indicated there wasn’t any lingering health issues for Engram: “He’s doing well. He’s full. He’s playing.”

Engram could be key to the Broncos (1-2) ending a two-game skid in which they’ve lost on walk-off field goals after never trailing in the fourth quarter.

“Listen, I think there are certainly matchups — third down, red zone come to mind — but with him on the field, we’re a better offense,” Payton said.

As are the Bengals when Higgins is more involved.

So far, Higgins has been targeted 14 times compared to Ja’Marr Chase’s 27.

Last week, Higgins caught just one of two passes thrown his way for 15 yards in a 48-10 drubbing at the hands of the Minnesota Vikings in their first game since franchise quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a toe injury that required surgery.

“That’s the thing about our guys, there’s not an ego involved in any of this,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said.

“There’s been games before where some of our main guys have caught a ball or have been targeted once. They know the next game might be 12 targets and 10 catches.”

A trip to Denver might just be the elixir for Higgins, who caught 11 passes for 131 yards and three TDs in the Bengals’ 30-24 overtime win over the Broncos in Cincinnati last December.

Of course, that was cornerback Riley Moss’s first game back from a knee injury. He’s healthy now and playing pretty well opposite reigning AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II, who will spent plenty of time covering Chase on Monday night.

“When you look at that game on the road, obviously there were some completions, but we competed and played those guys,” Payton said. “We didn’t score enough. He’s doing well. He’s had a great week.”

A dearth of targets for Higgins is one of just many concerns in Cincy’s offense.

Jake Browning has already thrown five interceptions in the seven quarters he has played and the Bengals are averaging only 2.4 yards per carry. Lead back Chase Brown is getting hit behind the line of scrimmage on nearly 80% of his carries and is averaging just 2 yards per rush so far.

The Broncos have their own offensive issues. Second-year quarterback Bo Nix is off to a slow start and his footwork and mechanics haven’t been consistently clean. Last week he overthrew wide-open receivers on deep routes three times in Denver’s 23-20 loss to the Chargers.

Nix’s slow start had left many wondering if his head coach put too much pressure on him by declaring all summer that Nix was already one of the NFL’s elite QBs and the Broncos were ready for Super Bowl contention.

“I think it’s better than him talking about how tough of a season it’s going to be,” Nix said.

While the Bengals tried to put aside their biggest loss in franchise history, the Broncos spent the week trying to fix their penalty problem — 30 flags in three games — and digesting the fact that they dropped back-to-back games despite never trailing in the fourth quarter.

“I guess you can say we reset,” running back J.K. Dobbins said. “We came together and we’re trying to figure out how to finish games and I think this week we have a good chance of showing that to the whole entire world. And I think we will do that.”

Engram’s return to the lineup could go a long way in making that happen.

“I think it’s going to be huge for us,” right tackle Mike McGlinchey said. “I’m ready to see Evan healthy and flying around. He’s such a talented player. He’s been great for us. I’m excited to see what he’s capable of this weekend and I know Sean is, too. I think he’s just about to get going and really help us win.”