{"id":130153,"date":"2023-10-14T15:15:38","date_gmt":"2023-10-14T19:15:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=130153"},"modified":"2023-10-14T15:16:13","modified_gmt":"2023-10-14T19:16:13","slug":"w2l4-what-bengals-need-to-do-to-beat-seahawks-head-into-bye-with-momentum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/w2l4-what-bengals-need-to-do-to-beat-seahawks-head-into-bye-with-momentum","title":{"rendered":"W2L4: What Bengals Need To Do To Beat Seahawks, Head Into Bye With Momentum"},"content":{"rendered":"

Seahawks (3-1) at Bengals (2-3) Sunday, Oct. 15 at Paycor Stadium (Field Turf), 1 p.m. ET, TV: CBS, WKRC-TV Ch. 12 (Cincinnati) Ian Eagle, Charles Davis, Evan Washburn, Radio: Dan Hoard, Dave Lapham. 700 WLW-AM, WEBN-FM (102.7 FM), ESPN1530<\/em><\/p>\n

It’s the rested against the restless. <\/p>\n

The Bengals (2-3) need a win to head into their bye week with a .500 mark that would match their record after six games last season. <\/p>\n

The Bengals are coming off a much-needed win on the road against the Arizona Cardinals, giving them the chance this Sunday to enter their bye week with a .500 mark. <\/p>\n

Ja\u2019Marr Chase led the way in Cincinnati\u2019s 34-20 win last Sunday. Chase hauled in a Bengals single-game record 15 receptions for 192 yards and three TDs. He became the fourth player in league history under the age of 24 to catch 15 passes in a game, and the fifth player ever to post at least 15 receptions, 150 receiving yards and three TDs.<\/p>\n

\u201c(With) Ja\u2019Marr, nothing really surprises you,\u201d Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. \u201cYou just keep finding ways to get him the ball. It can come in so many different ways because of how flexible he is as a football player and his football IQ.\u201d<\/p>\n

What made the feat all the more impressive is that the Bengals were without fellow star receiver Tee Higgins, nursing a rib injury from the loss at Tennessee in Week 4. <\/p>\n

Joe Burrow appeared close to fully recovered from his right calf strain, scrambling and running to space to avoid pressure and throwing accurately from moving pockets while completing 36-of-46 passes for 317 yards and three touchdowns.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s something I haven\u2019t been able to do for the last couple of weeks,\u201d Burrow said. \u201cWhen your quarterback can\u2019t do that \u2014 can\u2019t steal first downs, can\u2019t extend plays, can\u2019t find guys downfield \u2014 it\u2019s tough to move the ball. So, it felt good. I\u2019m going to continue to get healthier, and I\u2019m excited about that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Bengals are also hoping starting cornerback Chido Awuzie can return from a back issue that cropped up last week in practice and forced him to sit out. Rookie DJ Turner II made his first NFL start in the place of Awuzie.<\/p>\n

Behind the rejuvenated Geno Smith, Seattle has scored at least 24 points in each of their three wins since a Week 1 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. <\/p>\n

\u201cI really like the last three weeks,\u201d Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said. \u201cThe second half of the first game, that still kills me the way we were. But the last three games, we\u2019ve stayed in the mode where we\u2019re playing with the same kind of focus, same kind of intensity. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe feel like were gaining on some things. We\u2019re getting better at some stuff. We finished in similar fashion, which is something that really important to me, telling me how the mentality of our team is. We\u2019ve had three really solid settings we\u2019ve been through. We\u2019ve gained a lot. Hopefully we can keep going.\u201d <\/p>\n

No team has been stingier in the NFL in allowing rushing yards per carry. The Seahawks have yielded a league-low 3.18 yards per carry. Linebacker Bobby Wagner has been a big part of the Seattle defense that has led the way during the three-game win streak. <\/p>\n

The bye week should also help some injured players like Jamal Adams (concussion) to get healthy. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think it allows for some of the guys who were injured to get more healthy, guys like Jamal who we\u2019re working back into the fold, he gets to have a week off after a game like that,\u201d Wagner said. \u201cThe biggest thing is just health, giving guys time to get back and get healthy so we can make a run. I feel good about where we\u2019re at.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here’s what to look for: <\/strong><\/p>\n

  • Joe Burrow gets on a roll:<\/strong><\/li>\n

    Last week, Burrow showed that he is as healthy as he’s been all season, completing his first nine passes and 22 of his first 26 in carving up the Arizona secondary. Now, can he repeat it against a much better Seattle secondary? Burrow has been in rhythm on the opening drive of the last two games. Against Tennessee, the Bengals failed on third down repeatedly and could only muster the three points from opening drive. Last week, the Bengals QB showed his agility and mobility and found Chase on a scramble for a TD. The Bengals and Burrow were in rhythm for the first two drives, lost it and then found it again. They’ll need more consistency this week.<\/p>\n

  • Tee Higgins:<\/strong><\/li>\n

    Last week, the Bengals decided to play it safe with Higgins and give him an extra week to heal his ribs injured in the Tennessee game. With Seattle’s defense on tap, Higgins picked it up in practice this week and said he feels ready to play Sunday, perhaps without a restrictive flak jacket to protect the ribs. If Higgins is willing and able, he will offer some balance to a defense keyed to slow Chase. <\/p>\n

    \n

    Tee Higgins says he could play Sunday vs Seattle without a flak jacket. pic.twitter.com\/duegelMzuU<\/a><\/p>\n

    — Mike Petraglia (@Trags) October 12, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n