But the idea that the Bengals (1-3) could be playing meaningful games in December could all but disappear if they can’t find a way to beat the Buffalo Bills (3-1) on Sunday.
Because there is a massive gulf between being 2-3 and on a two-game winning streak heading into the bye, and sitting 1-4 with a trip to Pittsburgh on the horizon.
“For us to achieve what we think we can and what we’re trying to accomplish, we need to find a way to win this one,” quarterback Andy Dalton said.
“This is a big one,” defensive end Carlos Dunlap added. “Right now we’re not where we want to be as a football team, so we have to go out there and do something about it on Sunday.”
›› Four Bengals ruled out for Bills game
Here are six things to know about Sunday’s game that could define the course for the rest of the season:
Passing praise
Since Bill Lazor took over as offensive coordinator, Dalton has completed 81 percent of his passes while throwing six touchdowns and no interceptions for a passer rating of 138.2.
But the Bills are sure to present a stiffer test than the Browns did a week ago. Buffalo leads the NFL in scoring defense, and its six interceptions are second most in the AFC and third best in the NFL.
Follow Jay Morrison on Twitter
“The secondary is doing a great job of getting the ball in their hands,” Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. “They’re converting interceptions off of tipped balls, overthrows, etc. – but they’re making the plays. They’re very close in coverage, and they do a great job with the guys up front providing pressure on the quarterback.”
Last week the Bills held the explosive Atlanta in check while intercepting Matt Ryan twice in the fourth quarter. And the Buffalo offense converted both picks into field goals to account for the final margin in 23-17 road win.
Shifty, Shady
A Buffalo offense that runs on the shifty moves of running back LeSean “Shady” McCoy and quarterback Tyrod Taylor is expected to rely even heavier on that duo Sunday with the absence of top wide receiver Jordan Matthews to a thumb injury. No other receiver has more than six catches, although tight end Charles Clay (18 receptions, 227 yards, two touchdowns) has emerged as a weapon.
›› Bengals High 5: Five questions with Carlos Dunlap
The Bills like to use stretch running plays to thin the defense, widen the holes and let McCoy use his athleticism. It’s a scheme the Bengals don’t see a lot much of, so how effective they are in getting multiple players to the ball will be the key to slowing an offense that has explosive potential but hasn’t had much sustained success. The Bills rank 29th in total offense and 31st in passing offense.
Line learning
The situation at tackle continues to be fluid with Andre Smith rotating it at times for both Cedric Ogbuehi on the left side and Jake Fisher on the right. It started two weeks ago at Green Bay and continued last week at Cleveland with a noticeable change that had Smith starting for Ogbuehi.
Lewis said he likes the way the players have responded to the competition as the team looks for one or two of the tackles to win a full-time job.
“That’s what we’re trying to measure,” he said. “Guys are competing for an opportunity to play constantly and not be banished to not playing.”
And while the team gets a longer look how each player is performing during the week, Lewis said the evaluation will be based on what happens on Sundays.
“Its not going to show out here in practice,” said following Friday’s walk-through. “It’s going to show as we go through the season. If it does show, it’s going to evident as you play opponents.”
Something that will bear watching is whether the team will take a look at Trey Hopkins at tackle. Before Hopkins beat out Smith for the starting job at right guard, he was getting reps a tackle in camp. Hopkins suffered a knee injury in the opener, and T.J. Johnson has handled the duties at right guard since. Lewis said he expects Hopkins to play Sunday, and using him at tackle is something they would consider.
Credit: Stacy Revere
Credit: Stacy Revere
Fighting frustration
While Lazor has sparked production in the passing game despite the issues on the offensive line, the running game is still spinning its wheels. And it’s going to be hard to find an traction against Buffalo’s front four of Shaq Lawson, Kyle Williams, Marcell Dareus and Jerry Hughes.
While Jeremy Hill continues to start, the Bengals have made it clear they intend to ride with rookie Joe Mixon, giving him 65 percent (35 of 54) of the carries the last two Weeks. But Mixon has gained just 91 yards for average of 2.6.
›› Bengals aim to get struggling run game going
Twenty-nine of his rushes have gone for 2 yards or less, including 14 that resulted in negative or no yards, and Mixon, who averaged 6.8 yards per carry at Oklahoma, has shown signs of frustration with his body language.
“I don’t think he’s frustrated,” Lewis said. “He’s got to do his part to. He’s got to stay on his reads. Everything has to work together, all the time.”
Credit: Kevin C. Cox
Credit: Kevin C. Cox
Kicking competition
Given how impressive both defenses have been through the first quarter of the season, it’s easy to envision this being a low-scoring game that could come down to a final kick.
And even though Bengals kicker Randy Bullock is off to a quietly solid start, converting 5 of 6 field goals and all seven extra points, the edge has to go to Buffalo given what Stephen Hauschka has done this season.
›› Predicting Bengals-Bills and all Week 5 games
Hauschka, a 10-year veteran who is in his first season with the Bills, is 8 of 9 on field goals, including 4 of 4 on distances of at least 50 yards.
He hit from 27, 49, 53 and 55 yards two weeks ago in a victory against Denver to earn AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. And he took home the award again last week by connecting from 24, 55 and 56 in the upset at Atlanta.
Streak stats
The Bengals will carry two long streaks into Sunday’s game, one they hope to continue and one they would like to end.
With two sacks last week at Cleveland, the Bengals extended their run of games with at least one to 33, which is the longest active streak in the NFL.
›› Vigil emerging as force on Bengals defense
But the Browns also marked the 15th consecutive game in which the Bengals have failed to recover an opponent's fumble, which is the longest streak in modern NFL history (1933).
Credit: John Grieshop
Credit: John Grieshop
Fashion fact
Last year some of the Bengals players requested they be allowed to wear black pants with their orange jerseys, a combination that front office had done away with since 2005. The players’ wish was granted, and despite being 3-7-1 at the time they rolled to their biggest win of the year in a 32-14 triumph of Philadelphia.
›› Bengals to wear specialty jerseys vs. Bills
With that victory, the Bengals improved to 19-6-1 in their orange jerseys and 4-0 in the orange/black combination, which again will be on display against the Bills.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Like our Cincinnati Bengals News Now Facebook page
About the Author