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The Bengals lead the all-time series 8-5 but split the last two meetings, winning a matchup in Cincinnati in 2014 after falling at the old Georgia Dome in 2010.
Here are five things to watch for on Sunday:
1. Health makes a difference
Cincinnati entered last week’s game without linebacker Preston Brown, defensive end Michael Johnson, running back Joe Mixon and center Billy Price because of injuries, and then lost wide receiver A.J. Green to a pelvis bruise in the third quarter and defensive tackle Ryan Glasgow to a season-ending ACL tear in the fourth.
This week, a healthier unit heads out on the road. Brown, Johnson and Green were all full participants in practice Friday, and the only two players still on the injury report are Mixon and Price, who weren't expected back this week anyway. Glasgow is on injured reserve and was replaced on the roster by former Ohio State University lineman Adolphus Washington.
The Bengals are a different team without Green, as evidenced by the team’s inability to come back in the second half at Carolina, so it’s a positive sign he is back. And the return of Brown in particular, as well as Johnson, should help the run defense that struggled atrociously last week when the Bengals gave up 230 yards rushing to the Panthers.
“We’re getting close to having all hands on deck, so that’s good,” Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said.
2. Using John Ross
Ross took heat last week for not fighting hard enough on two passes thrown his way that were intercepted, as well as letting a deep ball through his hands in the second quarter at Carolina.
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Lewis said he expects Ross to “free his mind” and move past the mistakes, and his teammates expressed confidence in the team’s 2017 first-round draft pick as well, but it will be interesting to see how the Bengals use him Sunday.
“I have full confidence in him,” quarterback Andy Dalton said. “There is a reason we drafted him as high as we did. We just have to go out there and keep working. It’s all going to come for him, and I’m not worried about that. He’s got the right attitude and the right mindset. I have full confidence that he’s going to help us win a lot of games here.”
3. Third-down defense
Improving the defense has been a focus all week, particularly trying to solve issues on third down. Atlanta won't make that easy with an offense that ranks 11th in total yards and passing yards and averages 26.7 points per game.
The Bengals rank 26th in the NFL in net yards allowed per game (394.0) and 32nd in third-down efficiency (24 of 46; 52.2 percent).
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“Believe it or not, I think we are really close to fixing it and getting it done,” Bengals defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said when asked about the defense’s production on third downs. “There have been some bang-bang plays where I feel like we were just a hair short, or just a hair inside or outside of where we should be. I think we have a good opportunity to fix that. … We just have to continue to work to clean it up and get better at it each week. Once we do that, we’ll start making those stops.”
Cincinnati’s defense is familiar with one Atlanta receiver, as former teammate Mohamed Sanu is now in his third season with the Falcons. Sanu was drafted by the Bengals in 2012 and he spent his first four seasons in Cincinnati.
4. More of Dennard
Slot corner Darqueze Dennard only played 37 snaps on defense last week but with the way the Matt Ryan-quarterbacked Falcons use their dynamic receivers, he could see a bigger work load this week.
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Austin said Atlanta has a pass game that comes at the defense from different angles, and the slot corner will play an important role. Dennard will be tasked with stopping Julio Jones, in particular.
“He’ll be right there on him, that’s it,” Austin said. “That’s how we’ll play. I do like the fact that Quez has some size, he’s got toughness, he’s got all the stuff to play really good football.”
5. Attacking offense
The Bengals’ passing game has been on point this year, aside from four interceptions last week (only one really could be attributed to a Dalton mistake), but this week could especially be an opportunity for the offense to thrive.
Atlanta is missing both its starting safeties and linebacker Deion Jones because of season-ending injuries, and the Falcons have one of the worst defenses in the league, statistically.
Credit: DaytonDailyNews
Cincinnati has an arsenal of weapons in its tool box offensively outside of players like Green and Tyler Boyd, who is off to a great start to his third year. All three tight ends are contributing, and Giovani Bernard could be utilized more in the pass game as well, as running back catches seem to be increasing around the league this year.
“The more things you can give the defense to have to prepare for, the better,” offensive coordinator Bill Lazor said.
Last week, the Bengals dialed down the rushing offense in their first game without Mixon and had just two running backs active. Rookie Mark Walton had his first and only NFL carry wiped out by a penalty, and Bernard had 16 carries. Lazor said newcomer Thomas Rawls should be better prepared to play this week but “it’s up to Marvin,” whether he is active.
SUNDAY’S GAME
Bengals at Falcons, 1 p.m., WHIO-TV Ch. 7, Ch. 12, 1530, 102.7, 104.7
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