After an emotional win over the New England Patriots last week and back-to-back come-from-behind victories, the Buffalo Bills' momentum and confidence couldn't be higher going into their Week 4 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals. Cincinnati is coming off a hard-fought loss to San Francisco and looks for redemption from last season's game against Buffalo, when the Bills erased a 31-14 halftime deficit and scored four unanswered touchdowns for the road win.
Cincy's D looking sharp
Despite their 1-2 record, the Bengals' defense has been top-notch so far this season. They currently sit third in the league in total defense, fifth in passing yards and are holding running backs to less than 90 yards per game. Once again, all eyes will be on the Bills' offensive line, which has silenced critics with its stout performance thus far.
“They're not No. 3 in the league for nothing,” Bills coach Chan Gailey told the media Wednesday. “They're good. I mean they get after it. They've earned being the third best defense in the league.”
It will be an interesting matchup for running back Fred Jackson, who is currently fourth in the league in yards per game. Jackson instilled confidence in his line Wednesday, saying, “As long as they continue to play well we think we’ll play well as an offensive unit.”
Bills' offense looks for continued balance
With the success of the rushing attack thus far, particularly in the yards-per-carry category (both running back are averaging more than six yards per carry), Fitzpatrick has had the luxury of throwing more in the past two games than in Week 1. The Bills will look to keep that offensive balance against the Bengals if they can get off to a good start on the ground.
“Balance is what defenses hate,” Gailey told the media Wednesday. “They don’t like it when you can run it and throw it. So you have to stick with the run no matter what and you have to be able to throw it when you have to throw it.”
Bengals secondary seeks takeaway
Cincy's secondary has yet to collect an interception so far this season, and backup safeties Jeromy Miles and Gibril Wilson both did not practice Thursday, with Wilson ailing from an ACL surgery and Miles fighting a groin injury. Starting strong safety Chris Crocker missed practice earlier in the week for the birth of his first child but is ready for Sunday.
“We have to take the ball away; that’s one of our things.” Crocker told the media earlier this week. “We’ve gotten a lot of turnovers on defense. Fumbles, a lot of sacks, but we haven’t taken the ball out of the air and this is a good game (to do it).”
Notes: The Bengals should have running back Cedric Benson in the lineup Sunday. Benson was in court this week appealing a three-game suspension following an assault arrest this past offseason; Bills guard Kraig Urbik is not expected to play Sunday after suffering a knee injury, despite returning to practice Friday; the Bills promoted cornerback Terrence Wheatley to the starting roster this week, though he may only show up in a special teams role; October is Jackson's worst month for career production statistically (less than forty yards per game and less than four per carry in 12 games); Weather looks good for game time: 60 degrees and sunny.
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