The Cincinnati Bengals return to primetime in a desperate situation against the New York Giants.
Lose, and it’s a 1-5 that even the tallest of ladders might not be able to address. Win and, if nothing else, Joe Burrow and Co. stay alive in the messy AFC North.
To get an idea of things from the Giants’ perspective, we sent the biggest questions of the game to Dan Benton of Giants Wire.
Can you give Bengals fans not as familiar with the NFC a rundown on the Daniel Jones outlook?
Giants Wire: It’s amazing what an average offensive line and a true WR1 can do for a quarterback, isn’t it? After a hideous game against the Minnesota Vikings to open the season, Jones has settled down and given the Giants a chance to win four straight games. Obviously, they’ve gone 2-2 over that span but he’s not the reason for those losses, as we’ll get into shortly. Entering Sunday night’s game, Jones is the fifth-most-effective quarterback in the NFL over the past four weeks and this matchup should allow for that to continue. He’s not turning the ball over, is making good decisions, and seems to be getting his legs back under him post-ACL recovery. Is he the answer as the team’s franchise quarterback? At this point, I’d probably say no but he’s making it difficult for the Giants to move on.
What’s the impact of the injuries to big names like Nabers and Thibodeaux?
Giants Wire: Both are damning injuries. The offense runs through Malik Nabers entirely and even though the Giants had success in his absence a week ago, losing him completely changes what they have to do. He is an extremely unique talent and something Bengals fans can relate to seeing on a weekly basis. He’s going to be special. Meanwhile, losing Kayvon Thibodeaux is equally as damaging to the defense. His box score numbers don’t tell the true story of his weekly impact. Thibs is an all-around talent capable of rushing the passer, stopping the run, and even dropping back into coverage. His loss significantly weakens the team’s edge rush rotation and while Azeez Ojulari is a talented player as well, the drop-off behind him is significant.
The Giants have lost two of three by five points or less. What’s gone wrong in those games?
Giants Wire: The Washington loss falls entirely on head coach Brian Daboll and his horrendous handling of personnel. He went into the game with an injured kicker and after the opening kickoff, they were left without one. Punter Jamie Gillan filled in, missed a point after attempt and then the Giants moved away from the kicking game entirely. They failed on two two-point attempts and ultimately lost the game by three. The math speaks for itself. As for the Dallas game, I always hate to blame officials but go look up the Daniel Bellinger facemask penalty that essentially cost the Giants a touchdown… One of the worst calls you’ll ever see. Still, the Giants had a chance to win that game but a few third-down and fourth-down drops did them in.
Is there an underrated player nationally set to have a big impact in primetime?
Giants Wire: Rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. may surprise fans who have never seen him before. He’s an impressive dynamic talent, having switched from wide receiver to running back in college. His field vision is extremely impressive for a player with just five NFL games under their belt. Fellow rookies, safety Tyler Nubin and cornerback Andru Phillips, are also worth keeping an eye on. You wouldn’t know this is their first season. Credit general manager Joe Schoen for a strong draft class. Finally.
Which desperate team emerges the winner here?
Giants Wire: As much as I would love to pick the Giants in this one, they just can’t seem to get over the primetime hurdle. They are 1-14 in primetime games Daniel Jones starts since 2019 and consistently find a way to lose under the bright lights. There’s no way I can pick them to win until this curse is snapped and given the desperate nature of the Bengals entering this game, it’s an ugly mix for Big Blue. Bengals 30, Giants 24.
