{"id":128163,"date":"2023-08-17T23:21:26","date_gmt":"2023-08-18T03:21:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=128163"},"modified":"2023-08-18T09:15:45","modified_gmt":"2023-08-18T13:15:45","slug":"w2l4-many-starters-expected-to-get-their-only-preseason-look-as-bengals-visit-falcons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/w2l4-many-starters-expected-to-get-their-only-preseason-look-as-bengals-visit-falcons","title":{"rendered":"W2L4: Many Starters Expected To Get Their Only Preseason Look As Bengals Visit Falcons"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bengals (0-1, preseason) at Falcons (1-0, preseason) Friday, Aug. 18 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Field Turf), 7:30 p.m. ET, TV: Bengals Preseason Network Ch. 12 WKRC-TV (Cincinnati) Mike Watts, Anthony Munoz, Marisa Contipelli. Radio: Dan Hoard, Dave Lapham. WEBN-FM (102.7 FM), ESPN1530<\/em><\/p>\n

Now would be as good a time as any to start cleaning up the mistakes and put forward a representative effort as the Bengals travel to Atlanta to take on the Falcons in the second preseason game. <\/p>\n

Many starters are expected to play as the Bengals plan to do what many NFL teams do and use the penultimate game of the preseason to get their regulars some game action. <\/p>\n

Last week, the Bengals managed to get into the red zone for precisely one play in a very rough offensive display. Cincinnati’s only touchdown came on defense when Tycen Anderson returned a Sean Clifford pass 43 yards for a score. <\/p>\n

The offense simply has to be better. Trevor Siemian is expected to start the game at quarterback while Jake Browning will get the second half, swapping their roles from last Friday vs. the Packers. <\/p>\n

Quarterback coach Dan Pitcher said Wednesday in the final practice before Friday’s game that both quarterbacks need to improve their consistency in play-making<\/a>, especially downfield. <\/p>\n

The Bengals hit the road for the first time since the AFC Championship in January when they travel to Atlanta to take on the Falcons on Friday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.<\/p>\n

Cincinnati enters the game 0-1 in preseason, after a 36-19 loss at home to Green Bay last Friday. While head coach Zac Taylor acknowledged the offense\u2019s efficiency in putting together several extended drives, he felt the inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities proved to be the difference in the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cOffensively, we didn\u2019t get the ball in the end zone at all,\u201d Taylor said. \u201cKicked some field goals, had the defensive touchdown, but ultimately, that\u2019s what we\u2019re judged on \u2014 protecting the football and getting the team in the end zone. Not enough of that (last Friday).\u201d<\/p>\n

Defensively, the Bengals gave up 437 net yards (254 passing, 183 rushing), and allowed back-to-back Packers TD drives early in the first half that put Cincinnati behind 14-3. And while the offense certainly didn’t do its job in providing complementary football, the defense has areas to improve, like setting a better edge and not letting opposing running backs get to the outside and play keepaway. <\/p>\n

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Joseph Ossai shows burst off edge. pic.twitter.com\/YWpAVyT4bc<\/a><\/p>\n

— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) August 16, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n