The Cincinnati Bengals play in one of the most interesting games of the week when they take on the San Francisco 49ers on the road.
Those 49ers, after entering the season as Super Bowl favorites, have lost two in a row and face some serious injury questions coming off a short week after a Monday night game.
Those Bengals entered the season with major struggles in large part due to Joe Burrow’s calf injury, yet have rebounded to win two in a row and enter this one off a bye.
With this being an uncommon NFC opponent, we decided to get some expert help in looking at the matchup.
Here’s a look at our quick Q&A session with Niners Wire editor Kyle Madson.
Bengals Wire: What’s the scoop on Brock Purdy? Is he 100 percent if he plays? Is Sam Darnold going to give the Bengals problems like all backups seem to?
Niners Wire: Purdy is going to play and if he does I imagine he’ll be at 100 percent. I’m not a doctor so I’m not totally sure how concussions work, so maybe there’ll be lingering symptoms, but as far as I know he should be fine. If Darnold plays for whatever reason I think things get a little easier for Cincinnati given some his accuracy and decision-making issues. We’ve never really seen him in a regular season game though and some people think he’ll be an MVP caliber player in San Francisco’s offense. Count me as a skeptic on that.
Bengals Wire: What’s the backup situation along the line if Trent Williams doesn’t play/exits the game?
Niners Wire: If Williams doesn’t play it’ll be Jaylon Moore at LT. He did a fine job in pass protection against Minnesota when Williams was out, but he is not a great run blocker which is paramount to what the 49ers do offensively (more on this later). The rest of their line is okay, but right tackle Colton McKivitz has really struggled at times this year, as has right guard Spencer Burford. That duo might be a bigger issue overall than Moore.
Bengals Wire: For those Bengals fans unfamiliar with an NFC opponent, what’s up with the two-game skid for a presumed Super Bowl contender?
Niners Wire: It comes down to two key things. First, Williams being compromised in Week 6 and out for Week 7 slowed the 49ers run game dramatically. It’s forcing their offense to play behind the sticks and to overcome a lot of second and third and longs. On top of that, Deebo Samuel is out with a shoulder injury so their fix-all offensive solution isn’t in the lineup either. Also the Browns defense is just good as heck but that’s for another post. The second issue has been their defensive line. The 49ers cannot rush the passer right now which is a massive problem considering the resources they’ve dumped into that unit. Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks has resorted to more blitzing and it’s putting some of the 49ers best coverage assets (linebackers Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw) in pass rushing situations where they vacate areas of the field that allow for easier throws. It turns out when you eliminate a team’s run game and pass rush they get demonstrably worse. Who knew!?
Bengals Wire: Along those same lines, underrated player Bengals fans don’t know about who could be key in this game?
Niners Wire: Good question. It’s probably Deommodore Lenoir, their starting cornerback opposite Charvarius Ward. Lenoir in the playoffs last year had two interceptions with no TDs allowed, and has quietly picked up where he left off. He’s a little undersized, but his offseason work on winning contested throws has shown. He’s probably not Pro Bowl bound or anything. He is absolutely a starting caliber NFL CB though who’s capable of making plays at all three levels of the passing game — especially when the 49ers pass rush is working.
Bengals Wire: Nick Bosa appears to be getting pressures but not sacks. Is he, like Joe Burrow (did you know they’re best friends!?), just off to a slow start but expected to get back on track?
Niners Wire: Yeah Bosa has been a step or two shy of a sack on so many plays this year. I imagine the reigning DPOY will figure it out eventually. Maybe it’s just teams getting the ball out quickly. It might also be that his explosiveness isn’t there yet because he missed literally the entire offseason and preseason before signing the Thursday before the regular season opener. I’m expecting a bounce back at some point though where the pressures turn to sacks.
Bengals Wire: Prediction?
Niners Wire: I think the 49ers are going to lose a third straight game, and I think it’s because Williams will be out and their run game will struggle again, leading to some of the offensive problems we’ve seen from them the last couple weeks. Given their defensive struggles, a short week to fix their issues, and a bye week for the Bengals, this has all the feels of a Cincinnati win where they mostly control the game. Bengals 27, 49ers 18
