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http://espn.go.com/blog/cincinnati-...ley-preview-nfl-big-challenge-improved-rush-d
The Cincinnati Bengals (8-2) hope to get back on track at 1 p.m. ET Sunday when they play host to the St. Louis Rams (4-6). Here are things to watch for during the game:
Why watch? When the Bengals went into last week's game against the Arizona Cardinals, they were bracing for a key showdown in the trenches against the league's third-most productive running back, Chris Johnson. This week, they face a similar challenge when the league's fourth-most productive rusher, Rams rookie Todd Gurley, comes to town. Just as they did against Johnson, who they held to 63 yards on 18 carries, the Bengals will have to do everything they can to stifle Gurley. A key piece of an offense that features a couple of speedy playmakers, Gurley is a 100-yard rushing game waiting to happen. Already four times this season he has hit the 100-yard rushing mark. Each of those came before Week 9, though. It was also before Week 9 that the Bengals were giving up an average 110.1 rushing yards per game. Thanks to much improved play against the run in the past three games, Cincinnati's defense is only allowing 100.4 yards on the ground per game now. Linebacker Vontaze Burfict's return from microfracture surgery coincided with the improved run support. You will want to watch to see what kind of lift Burfict continues to provide the Bengals' rush defense, and to see if Gurley will continue to struggle -- he's had 89-, 45- and 66-yard rushing totals the past three games -- or get back to the dominance he showed earlier in the season.
Keep your eyes peeled ... for how the Bengals play in the third quarter. Though a big deal has been rightfully made all season about the way the Bengals have started games -- they have had opening-possession touchdowns in half their games this season -- there hasn't been much said about their scoring issues coming out of halftime. Those scoring issues were very evident last Sunday night, when the Bengals didn't score a single third-quarter point, but did allow three touchdowns. It ended up putting them down by as many as 14. All season the third quarter has been a problem for the Bengals. They have only scored 44 points this season in the third quarter, making it their least productive quarter. In also allowing 55 third-quarter points, the Bengals' point margin for that period is minus-11. But the fourth quarter has been a different story. They have a plus-27 point margin in the final quarter of regulation, scoring 89 points and allowing 62. Their best quarter in terms of scoring margin is the first, at plus-39. After so many inconsistencies this season, it's worth keeping an eye on how Cincinnati handles the third quarter.
The Cincinnati Bengals (8-2) hope to get back on track at 1 p.m. ET Sunday when they play host to the St. Louis Rams (4-6). Here are things to watch for during the game:
Why watch? When the Bengals went into last week's game against the Arizona Cardinals, they were bracing for a key showdown in the trenches against the league's third-most productive running back, Chris Johnson. This week, they face a similar challenge when the league's fourth-most productive rusher, Rams rookie Todd Gurley, comes to town. Just as they did against Johnson, who they held to 63 yards on 18 carries, the Bengals will have to do everything they can to stifle Gurley. A key piece of an offense that features a couple of speedy playmakers, Gurley is a 100-yard rushing game waiting to happen. Already four times this season he has hit the 100-yard rushing mark. Each of those came before Week 9, though. It was also before Week 9 that the Bengals were giving up an average 110.1 rushing yards per game. Thanks to much improved play against the run in the past three games, Cincinnati's defense is only allowing 100.4 yards on the ground per game now. Linebacker Vontaze Burfict's return from microfracture surgery coincided with the improved run support. You will want to watch to see what kind of lift Burfict continues to provide the Bengals' rush defense, and to see if Gurley will continue to struggle -- he's had 89-, 45- and 66-yard rushing totals the past three games -- or get back to the dominance he showed earlier in the season.
Keep your eyes peeled ... for how the Bengals play in the third quarter. Though a big deal has been rightfully made all season about the way the Bengals have started games -- they have had opening-possession touchdowns in half their games this season -- there hasn't been much said about their scoring issues coming out of halftime. Those scoring issues were very evident last Sunday night, when the Bengals didn't score a single third-quarter point, but did allow three touchdowns. It ended up putting them down by as many as 14. All season the third quarter has been a problem for the Bengals. They have only scored 44 points this season in the third quarter, making it their least productive quarter. In also allowing 55 third-quarter points, the Bengals' point margin for that period is minus-11. But the fourth quarter has been a different story. They have a plus-27 point margin in the final quarter of regulation, scoring 89 points and allowing 62. Their best quarter in terms of scoring margin is the first, at plus-39. After so many inconsistencies this season, it's worth keeping an eye on how Cincinnati handles the third quarter.
