The Green Bay Packers return to action after the bye week when they host the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 6. Green Bay enters this week’s game with a 2-1-1 mark while the Bengals are 2-3. The Packers settled for a 40-40 tie with the Cowboys before the bye. The Bengals are coming off a 37-24 loss to the Lions last week. Here are the keys to victory for the Packers in their Week 6 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals.
The all-time series between these two teams is even at 7-7 in the regular season. The two teams first met in 1971, one year after the NFL/AFL merger. The two teams have never met in the postseason.
Here are the keys to victory for Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field:
Packers Keys to Victory vs Bengals, Number One: Contain Trey Hendrickson
The Bengals defense isn’t great, but they have one outstanding player in edge rusher Trey Hendrickson. He has four of the Bengals 10 sacks this season and remains a force off the edge.
The Packers offensive line appears to be getting healthier and needs to play better. Left guard Aaron Banks and right tackle Zach Tom returned to practice this week but were limited participants on Wednesday. It will be a big boost for the offensive line if they are able to play.
The Bengals hope to get Shemar Stewart back for this game. He was limited in practice Wednesday with an ankle injury. If he’s healthy, he could give Cincinnati another pass rushing weapon although he’s not an elite player like Hendrickson.
Expect the Bengals to try to move Hendrickson around to create favorable matchups. It will be up to the Packers offensive line to give Jordan Love enough time to get the ball downfield. The Bengals secondary is ranked 29th in the league allowing 259 yards per game through the air on average. The Packers should be able to move the ball through the air if Love has time to throw.
Number Two: Get Pressure on Joe Flacco
The Bengals offensive line has given up 15 sacks in five games. The unit has struggled to protect all three quarterbacks who have played this season.
The Packers pass rush has recorded 11 sacks in four games and done a good job of getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Joe Flacco isn’t very mobile at this stage of his career. When he faced the Packers in Week 3 with the Browns, the Packers sacked him twice but pressured him all game. His longest completion was a mere 17 yards because he didn’t have time to throw the ball downfield. Look for Micah Parsons and Rashan Gary to have strong games against the inconsistent Bengals offensive line.
The Packers need to repeat that performance to hamper the Bengals passing game. Cincinnati ranks dead last in the league at running the football. If the Packers pressure Flacco, they should be able to limit the effectiveness of the Bengals offense.
Packers Keys to Victory vs Bengals, Number Three: Prevent Big Plays by the Bengals Receivers
Cincinnati has two outstanding wide receivers in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Chase has been productive this season, catching 32 passes for 374 yards and three touchdowns. Higgins has been less productive, catching just 13 passes for 158 yards and two scores.
The Packers may not have Nate Hobbs on Sunday. He was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday due to a concussion.
That means Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine will have to step up and cover Chase and Higgins.
The key will be pressuring Flacco and preventing Chase and Higgins from making splash plays. Flacco will likely have difficulty if he has to sustain long, gradual drives.
Number Four: Establish the Running Game
The Packers offensive line has struggled to open holes for the running game. As a result, Josh Jacobs is averaging more than a yard less per carry than he had last season. The Packers running game was finally productive in the second half and in overtime against the Cowboys.
The potential return of Tom and Banks should improve the run blocking. Jacobs continues to make tackles miss and to gain yards after contact. If the holes were there, he would return to his dominant productivity he showed last season.
If the Packers can run the football, they can set up the play-action pass and perhaps more importantly, regain confidence in their running game.
Packers Keys to Victory vs Bengals, Number Five: Get the Ball to Tucker Kraft
Tight end Tucker Kraft gives the Packers a reliable short and intermediate target. His ability to run with the ball after the catch can turn short passes into longer gains.
The Bengals secondary has struggled all season. Kraft should have a big game. The Packers wide receivers, led by Romeo Doubs and Matthew Golden, should also be productive against Cincinnati. This could be Golden’s breakout game.
Number Six: No Special Teams Disasters
The Packers special teams have been a big problem this season. A blocked field goal and a blocked extra point have cost the team dearly in the past two games. The return game has been an adventure due to mental mistakes and penalties. The punt and kick coverage has allowed long returns at inopportune times.
The Packers cannot allow special teams to make a big impact for the Bengals. If the Packers have another special teams disaster, they could allow Cincinnati to stay in the game or possibly even pull off the upset.
Head coach Matt LaFleur also announced that kicker Brandon McManus was dealing with a quad injury that he considers “a major concern.” The Packers need reliable place kicking so this could become a factor.
Prediction:
The Packers need to bounce back after two disappointing performances. After two games, the Packers looked like Super Bowl contenders. The last two games, they’ve come back to earth.
Green Bay is clearly the more talented team. They have to stop making mental errors, taking bad penalties and beating themselves.
The Bengals defense is not good Flacco will only have a handful of practices to prepare for this game and learn the Cincinnati offense.
The offense should shine Sunday and the Packers will get back on track.
Packers 34, Bengals 21
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