Bengals @ Packers

[Vin+ 3,121]

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(TSX / STATS) -- The Green Bay Packers gave up 34 points in Sunday night's loss at Atlanta.

 

The Cincinnati Bengals have scored nine points while starting the season 0-2.

 

One of these struggling units should be feeling better about things after Sunday's game at Lambeau Field.

 

The Bengals haven't scored a touchdown in losses to Baltimore and Houston at home. A day after the 13-9 loss to the Texans, longtime coach Marvin Lewis fired offensive coordinator Ken Zampese and replaced him with quarterbacks coach Bill Lazor.

 

"We have to have a direction of execution and things have to fit together and we've got to provide opportunity to attack the defense," Lewis said. "We've got to do a great job attacking what is our perceived weakness of the defense and get the ball to our guys who can make plays."

 

That starts with getting quarterback Andy Dalton back on track. Dalton, who is coming off his two best seasons, with a career-high passer rating of 106.2 in 2015 and a career-high completion rate of 64.7 percent in 2016, owns the worst passer rating in the league at 47.2 and the next-to-worst completion rate at 54.5 percent.

 

Dalton has thrown four interceptions and been sacked eight times behind a shaky offensive line that has struggled to replace left tackle Andrew Whitworth and right guard Kevin Zeitler, who left in free agency.

 

Green Bay's defense got off to an impressive start vs. Seattle in a 17-9 win to open the season but got exposed, again, in a 34-23 loss at Atlanta. The Packers couldn't stop Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (252 passing yards, 108.0 rating), receiver Julio Jones (five catches, 108 yards) or the running game (5.2-yard average).

 

Early in that game, Green Bay inserted cornerback Kevin King, a first-round draft pick, into the lineup and he gave up only one catch.

 

With Lewis looking to get the ball more to his playmakers, King and fellow cornerback Davon House will be tested by star Bengals receiver A.J. Green. Green had 1,000-yard receiving years in each of his first five seasons and would have done it again last year if not for missing six games because of injury. He has caught 10 passes for 141 yards to start this year.

 

While Cincinnati's offense has been horrible, the defense has played well enough to win both games. The Bengals have given up 20 points or fewer in eight of their last nine, including both games this season.

 

In the opener against Baltimore, Cincinnati lost 20-0 due, in large part, to five giveaways. Last week against Houston, the Bengals gave up only 266 yards, including 98 net passing yards, but lost 13-9.

 

Lewis knows his defense will face a much bigger challenge against Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers than it did last week against rookie Deshaun Watson. Lewis has had some success vs. Rodgers, though. In matchups in 2009 and 2013, Cincinnati won both games and held Rodgers to a passer rating of 73.5.

 

"He's an outstanding player," Lewis said of Rodgers. "He has a great command of their offense and what Mike wants done. He knows the system inside and out, knows where everybody belongs (and gets) everybody to the right spots. And then he's able to just do a great job of delivering the football. And then he extends them with his arms, his legs.

 

"I think the thing we just impress upon our players is this is an all-day sucker, man. We've got to play the run, we've got to tackle and then, when we get in coverage and rush, we've got to be consistent and we've got to play tenacious and stay after it."

 

Injuries again will be a factor for the Packers. Seven starters were out by the end of the Atlanta game. Offensive tackles David Bakhtiari (hamstring) and Bryan Bulaga (ankle) were inactive, and receivers Jordy Nelson (quad) and Randall Cobb (chest), House (quad), safety Kentrell Brice (groin) and defensive tackle Mike Daniels (hip) dropped out during the game. Nelson and Bulaga were full participants on Wednesday, but Bakhtiari, Brice, Cobb, Daniels, House and outside linebacker Nick Perry (hand) were among eight players who did not practice.

 

"We expect to play well every time we're out there," Rodgers said. "No matter who's out there, they're all professionals. There's an expectation of a style of play and a performance that we all have for ourselves and for each other. So whoever's out there lining up is going to be expected to play well."

 

Cincinnati, tight end Tyler Eifert (back) was ruled out Friday and right guard Trey Hopkins (knee) will miss his second straight game.

 

 

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

I don't feel good about this, and I think I should... Bengals probably gonna want to prove something after letting their OC go and just kill us

[RazorStar 4,025]

The Packers secondary vs. the Bengals offense. Truly the battle of a stoppable force versus a movable object....

 

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[Packers Dynasty 2010 116]

Not sure what to say. We came out and looked like shit and thought we were toast after that pick 6. Surprisingly after letting Cincy march it right down for 2 TDs, the defense played fairly well. Josh Jones is the real deal and had a great game. King struggled at times with Green but for a rookie making his 1st start against a great WR, he performed as well as can be hoped for. Excited for both of these rookies and their futures. Not sure if it was just cause he was against Lafell, but Randall looked fairly good this game. Still need more turnovers and would really like to see the secondary play more aggressive and go for some picks. Too often, it seems they are playing off and letting the play come to them. I want to see these guys flying around and making plays. So glad to finally see the defense stop the opposing offense in OT and allow Rodgers to actually have a chance to win a game in OT.

 

As for offense, looked good on the 1st drive then just looked horrible the rest of the 1st half. Lawson was going right through Murphy and in Rodgers' face every time he dropped back. Couldn't get Ty going at all and Bennett has just looked like a huge disappointment thus far. Turned it around coming out of half and had that nice drive to start the half then a beautiful drive to tie the game and force OT. Once again Rodgers works his magic to force offsides and makes the defense pay with GERONIMO. Rodgers finally got to beat the Bengals and his 1st win in OT.

 

I'm not sure how this team can turn around and play on Thursday right away with the amount of injuries we have. Hopefully some of the guys that missed today can return, especially Daniels. We need his presence and disruptive skills to at least try slowing Howard down.

[seanbrock 1,684]

Josh Jones looks like one of those players who if used correctly could be one of the biggest play makers in the league. He has a pretty dynamic skill set. I think if the Packers can ever go a year without getting decimated by injuries they'd be really good. I've been saying this forever about the Packers but they need to look at the medical staff and just the way they practice. This isn't bad luck.

[Packers Dynasty 2010 116]

Josh Jones looks like one of those players who if used correctly could be one of the biggest play makers in the league. He has a pretty dynamic skill set. I think if the Packers can ever go a year without getting decimated by injuries they'd be really good. I've been saying this forever about the Packers but they need to look at the medical staff and just the way they practice. This isn't bad luck.

 

Ya I'm not sure whats up with the injures. Believe they switched their medical and conditioning staff around a few years ago and were fairly healthy in 2014. Unfortunately Rodgers suffered that leg injury towards the end of the season and was hobbled through the playoffs.

[Cherry 1,302]

I got the receipt on Josh Jones