Know the Foe: Packers @ Cincinnati Bengals Week 5

The Green Bay Packers took care of business in week 4 and disposed of the visiting Steelers 27-17. The win moves the Pack to 3-1 and on top of the NFC North. For Week 5, it’s back on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals got a 24-21 Thursday night win against the Jaguars to also move to 3-1. This game should be a challenge for Green Bay against this young and hungry Cincy team.

Bengals Behind Burrow

The Bengals have been in closely contested matches so far in 2021. All four games have each been decided by only one score. The Bengals ranked 20th in the league in points and even lower in both passing and rushing offense. Even though they have not gotten the offense rolling, they aren’t short of talent. Led by 2020 first overall pick Joe Burrow, the Bengals have landed a good one for the foreseeable future. Burrow is just under a 1,000 yards passing on the year with 9 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. He is a big strong QB that can make all the throws. More impressive is his demeanor. Burrow has ice in his veins and an iron mentality to go with all the physical tools.

Cincinnati Company

Burrow is in good company with a loaded cupboard of weapons in Cincinnati. First-round wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is showing the hype is real. Chase busted into the NFL with 4 touchdowns in his first three games. The 6’0″ 200 lb. wideout already has 3 explosive plays of over 40 yards on the year. On the other side is the quietly good Tyler Boyd. The six-year pro is coming off his first 100-yard game on the season and has carved out a solid career so far. He’s not a flashy wide receiver but he just seems to get open and produce.  If that wasn’t enough the Bengals might be getting Tee Higgins back after missing two games. The second-year wideout, Higgins is the big WR of the group at 6’4″ 215lbs. Coming off a rookie year of 900 yards and 6 touchdowns, Higgins rounds out this diverse three-headed monster.

Furthermore, the running game has a bell-cow back carrying the rock. Joe Mixon has been the Bengals workhorse over the last five years. The big back is dealing with injury but if he’s a go Sunday he can grind teams or use his explosive ability to gash. If Mixon is out Samaje Perine will get the call but the 240 lb. Perine isn’t on the same talent level as Mixon. There is also rookie Chris Evans who may get in the mix as well.

A team with all this firepower should be scoring more points, but the offensive line is part of the problem. The group has dealt with injury and is struggling on the year. Green Bay will look to exploit this unit and keep the offense under wraps.

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Holding Their Own On Defense

The Bengals aren’t a team loaded with household names but they have talent and are getting it done on defense. Defensive end Trey Hendrickson was the huge free-agent addition this season. Coming off 13.5 sacks in 2020, Hendrickson has 2.5 sacks already on this year. Sam Hubbard is on the other side but not the sack specialist like Hendrickson. On the interior, B.J. Hill is off to a fast start with 3 sacks in a limited role. Also inside is enormous run-stuffer D.J. Reader.

Inside linebacker, Logan Wilson has been getting a lot of buzz lately. The second-year player from Wyoming has been a human highlight reel. He has 3 picks already with 3 pass breakups. Last week he added a sack to his resume. Wilson and the sure tackling Germaine Pratt make a strong duo with the smaller but athletic rookie Akeem Davis-Gaither showing he belongs.

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Leader and team captain Jessie Bates missed last week and it showed. The 24-year old Bates has become one of the better safeties in the league and he’s still improving. Bates covers like a corner and 100-tackle seasons are becoming his norm. If he plays on Sunday, Green Bay would be wise to avoid him. However, the other safety Vonn Bell is no joke in his own right.

Like previous weeks the Packers are facing a cornerback group they can work against. Chidobe Awuzie missed last week but could play. Trae Waynes, Mike Hilton, and the well-traveled Eli Apple are not striking fear in anyone. The Packers will see some favorable matchups here to help get that 4th win in 2021.

Thank you for reading 2021 Know the Foe: Packers @ Cincinnati Bengals Week 5. Be sure to check out all of the great NFL content available on Full Press Coverage.

– Jesse Hall is a writer for Full Press Coverage Packers. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @hall_jhall1212 Follow @FPCoverage and Facebook.

– Kyle Senra is the managing editor for Full Press Coverage Packers. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @SenraSays Follow @FPC_Packers and Facebook.