Green Bay Packers v. Bengals: 6 Big Questions Ahead of Matchup
By Paul Bretl
Will the Green Bay Packers establish and stick to the run?
I could probably ask this question weekly because it is so important to the success of this offense. With Week 1 being a prime example, we’ve seen of a few occasions what happens when this offense abandons the run game.
Despite not tallying gaudy rushing numbers, the Packers have stuck with the run game the last three weeks, averaging nearly 30 carries per game during that span, even though they are averaging 3.6 yards per rush as a team, which ranks 28th. This also goes to show that teams don’t need huge rushing totals in order for the defense to respect the run game.
Against the Bengals, Green Bay will be up against a defensive front that has held up well against the run, allowing only 3.7 yards per carry, the eighth fewest in football with DJ Reader and BJ Hill leading the way along this defensive front.
Finding success on the ground not only allows the Packers to control the clock, but it allows this young offensive line to be aggressive and fire off the ball, and it also helps open up the passing game as well.
Can the defensive front help the secondary?
Without Jaire Alexander, Green Bay will be leaning heavily on Kevin King, who is cleared to play, and we are going to see much more of Isaac Yiadom and Shemar Jean-Charles than what we did through the first three weeks. And although Eric Stokes has impressed, he is still a rookie who is going to take his lumps.
However, the defensive front can play a big role in making life easier for these Packers’ cornerbacks. By slowing the Bengals run game that ranks 21st with 3.8 yards per carry, it will make this Cincinnati offense more one-dimensional and predictable, which of course, is always a benefit to the defense.
Pressuring Burrow will also cause issues for the Bengals offense as well, but that may be easier said than done. To help Burrow as well as this offensive line unit, Cincy has relied on quick passes to get the ball out of his hands. According to PFF ($$), Burrow gets the ball out of his hands on average in only 2.43 seconds, the fourth quickest time in the NFL this season.
Naturally, all eyes are going to be on the Green Bay Packers’ secondary, but the defensive front can provide them with a lot of help depending on how well they play.