|
|
LV |
CIN |
Raiders-Bengals Preview
CINCINNATI (AP) Approaching the halfway point of the season, the Las Vegas Raiders and Cincinnati Bengals are underperforming teams still searching for some kind of identity.
Both have struggled to run the ball, with the Bengals and Raiders 28th and 31st, respectively, in rushing yards in the league.
Las Vegas (2-6) finished its 27-20 loss to the Chiefs with only 33 yards on the ground, an average of 1.6 per carry. Alexander Mattison ran the ball 14 times for 15 yards.
Their defenses have been inconsistent, with Cincinnati (3-5) allowing 20 unanswered points in the second half in last week's 37-17 loss to the Eagles.
The Raiders are one of 14 teams in NFL history to trail by double digits in each of their first eight games of a season.
“We’ve got to run the ball. Can’t do that,” Las Vegas coach Antonio Pierce said. “So, we’ll keep pounding again. Get back to work. Like I told the guys, man, we got to do this for another nine weeks and that’s what we signed up for. So, it’s not easy, it’s tough. Don’t like it. Wish it was easier.”
The Raiders are searching for all sorts of answers as they try to halt a four-game skid.
"It’s just something we got to keep working on and pounding on,” Pierce said.
The Bengals are looking for their first home win against four losses at Paycor Stadium. Their three wins this season have come against teams that currently have won a combined five games.
“I think you can say this shouldn’t be where we are, but this is where we’re at," Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow said. “I don’t think you can look at it like that. You’ve got to adapt to the situation that presents itself, and this is the situation we find ourselves in.”
After the Eagles loss, Burrow said with confidence that the Bengals are capable of winning seven of their last nine games to get the 10 victories likely needed to make the playoffs.
His attitude may be justified, given that he historically has been at his best in November and December. He has a 20-8 record in games from November to January. His best month is December, when he has a 6-2 record and a 108.3 passer rating.
Most of those wins came during 2021 and 2022 playoff runs.
Last year, he was sidelined from Nov. 16 on when he injured his wrist. He was 1-1 in November at the time.
“The one thing I do know is we have one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL," Bengals special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons said this week when asked about the state of the team. "That’s always a great place to start. When you have a quarterback like we have and some teams do not, it always gives you hope.”
The Chiefs spent much of the second half Sunday blitzing the Raiders, recording five sacks for the game. Given the Bengals’ propensity to send extra rushers, the Raiders are preparing for a similar game plan this weekend.
“They do a good job of it,” Las Vegas quarterback Gardner Minshew said. “A couple of their (defensive backs) are good. (Trey) Hendrickson is great off the edge, so you’ve got to be aware, got to have a plan for how they attack you like that.”
The Bengals signed Mike Gesicki as a pass-catching tight end, and that's what he's been doing. With receiver Tee Higgins out last week because of a quad injury, Gesicki had his second seven-catch game of the season, leading the team with 73 receiving yards. He has 25 receptions for 253 yards this season, including 91 in a 26-25 loss to the Chiefs on Sept. 15.
Jackson Powers-Johnson won the Rimington Trophy last season at Oregon, which goes to the nation’s best center in college football.
But when the Raiders drafted him in the second round this year, they did so with the idea he would play guard. That is until starting center Andre James went out with an ankle injury in Sunday’s 27-20 loss to the Chiefs.
Powers-Johnson finished the game at center and is practicing at that position this week in case James can’t play.
“I’m just continuing to lean on (his experience at center) and lean on the preparation,” Powers-Johnson said. “It’s definitely helping getting back in the swing of things.”
---
AP Sports Writer Mark Anderson in Las Vegas contributed to this report.
---
AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
G. Minshew
15 QB
72 FPTS
|
G. Minshew | 138/204 | 1377 | 6 | 8 | 72 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A. O'Connell
12 QB
25 FPTS
|
A. O'Connell | 52/82 | 455 | 2 | 2 | 25 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
A. Mattison
22 RB
88 FPTS
|
A. Mattison | 83 | 265 | 3 | 24 | 88 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Z. White
3 RB
19 FPTS
|
Z. White | 54 | 164 | 0 | 17 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Abdullah
8 RB
23 FPTS
|
A. Abdullah | 12 | 69 | 1 | 40 | 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. Minshew
15 QB
72 FPTS
|
G. Minshew | 14 | 46 | 0 | 11 | 72 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Turner
19 WR
30 FPTS
|
D. Turner | 5 | 33 | 1 | 18 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Tucker
11 WR
58 FPTS
|
T. Tucker | 5 | 29 | 1 | 11 | 58 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Bowers
89 TE
108 FPTS
|
B. Bowers | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 108 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. McAllister
32 WR
1 FPTS
|
T. McAllister | 2 | 11 | 0 | 10 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Meyers
16 WR
75 FPTS
|
J. Meyers | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 75 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Laube
23 RB
-2 FPTS
|
D. Laube | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
B. Bowers
89 TE
108 FPTS
|
B. Bowers | 65 | 52 | 535 | 1 | 57 | 108 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Meyers
16 WR
75 FPTS
|
J. Meyers | 43 | 31 | 325 | 2 | 33 | 75 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Tucker
11 WR
58 FPTS
|
T. Tucker | 38 | 23 | 252 | 1 | 54 | 58 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Mattison
22 RB
88 FPTS
|
A. Mattison | 26 | 22 | 195 | 1 | 31 | 88 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Turner
19 WR
30 FPTS
|
D. Turner | 21 | 10 | 99 | 1 | 30 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
H. Bryant
84 TE
12 FPTS
|
H. Bryant | 10 | 7 | 64 | 0 | 14 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Abdullah
8 RB
23 FPTS
|
A. Abdullah | 14 | 11 | 46 | 0 | 12 | 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Bachman
33 WR
6 FPTS
|
A. Bachman | 3 | 3 | 31 | 0 | 18 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Z. White
3 RB
19 FPTS
|
Z. White | 8 | 6 | 30 | 0 | 14 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Mayer
87 TE
5 FPTS
|
M. Mayer | 7 | 4 | 21 | 0 | 11 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Wilkerson
83 WR
9 FPTS
|
K. Wilkerson | 3 | 2 | 18 | 1 | 9 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Shenker
86 TE
1 FPTS
|
J. Shenker | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
R. Spillane
41 LB
|
R. Spillane | 51-28 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Moehrig
7 SAF
|
T. Moehrig | 35-17 | 0.0 | 2 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Hobbs
39 CB
|
N. Hobbs | 25-13 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Jones
18 CB
|
J. Jones | 22-8 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
I. Pola-Mao
20 SAF
|
I. Pola-Mao | 21-10 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Butler
69 DT
|
A. Butler | 20-12 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Epps
1 SAF
|
M. Epps | 16-3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Deablo
5 LB
|
D. Deablo | 16-10 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Crosby
98 DE
|
M. Crosby | 16-10 | 6.5 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Wilkins
94 DT
|
C. Wilkins | 11-6 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Bennett
0 DB
|
J. Bennett | 11-9 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Snowden
49 DE
|
C. Snowden | 9-14 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Masterson
59 LB
|
L. Masterson | 8-6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Chaisson
45 DE
|
K. Chaisson | 7-5 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Jenkins
95 DT
|
J. Jenkins | 6-16 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Wilson
9 DE
|
T. Wilson | 5-3 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Robinson
97 DE
|
J. Robinson | 2-1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Butler
91 DT
|
M. Butler | 2-3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Eichenberg
45 LB
|
T. Eichenberg | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Smith
29 S
|
C. Smith | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Richardson
25 CB
|
D. Richardson | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Harper
34 SAF
|
T. Harper | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Burney
56 LB
|
A. Burney | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Laulu
96 DT
|
J. Laulu | 0-4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Holmes
30 CB
|
D. Holmes | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
D. Carlson
2 K
64 FPTS
|
D. Carlson | 15/17 | 54 | 11/11 | 56 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
J. Burrow
9 QB
172 FPTS
|
J. Burrow | 185/263 | 1993 | 15 | 3 | 172 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
C. Brown
30 RB
85 FPTS
|
C. Brown | 78 | 359 | 4 | 30 | 85 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Z. Moss
31 RB
74 FPTS
|
Z. Moss | 74 | 242 | 2 | 16 | 74 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Burrow
9 QB
172 FPTS
|
J. Burrow | 24 | 106 | 1 | 47 | 172 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Chase
1 WR
155 FPTS
|
J. Chase | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 155 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
J. Chase
1 WR
155 FPTS
|
J. Chase | 59 | 48 | 674 | 7 | 70 | 155 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Higgins
5 WR
79 FPTS
|
T. Higgins | 45 | 29 | 341 | 3 | 25 | 79 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Gesicki
88 TE
47 FPTS
|
M. Gesicki | 30 | 25 | 253 | 0 | 37 | 47 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Iosivas
80 WR
47 FPTS
|
A. Iosivas | 27 | 14 | 189 | 3 | 39 | 47 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Z. Moss
31 RB
74 FPTS
|
Z. Moss | 27 | 23 | 187 | 1 | 21 | 74 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
E. All
83 TE
30 FPTS
|
E. All | 20 | 18 | 134 | 0 | 28 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Burton
81 WR
10 FPTS
|
J. Burton | 5 | 2 | 88 | 0 | 47 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Brown
30 RB
85 FPTS
|
C. Brown | 21 | 16 | 61 | 1 | 11 | 85 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Sample
89 TE
6 FPTS
|
D. Sample | 5 | 4 | 28 | 0 | 12 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Hudson
87 TE
1 FPTS
|
T. Hudson | 4 | 2 | 18 | 0 | 13 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Irwin
16 WR
3 FPTS
|
T. Irwin | 9 | 3 | 15 | 0 | 6 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Jones
15 WR
-1 FPTS
|
C. Jones | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | -1 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
G. Pratt
57 LB
|
G. Pratt | 46-34 | 0.0 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Wilson
55 LB
|
L. Wilson | 41-38 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Taylor-Britt
29 CB
|
C. Taylor-Britt | 32-12 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. Stone
22 SAF
|
G. Stone | 23-19 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Hubbard
94 DE
|
S. Hubbard | 23-10 | 2.0 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Hill
23 DB
|
D. Hill | 20-5 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Turner
20 CB
|
D. Turner | 19-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Hilton
21 CB
|
M. Hilton | 18-6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Hendrickson
91 DE
|
T. Hendrickson | 17-4 | 7.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
V. Bell
24 S
|
V. Bell | 17-24 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Hill
92 DT
|
B. Hill | 10-13 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Rankins
98 DT
|
S. Rankins | 8-7 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Murphy
99 DE
|
M. Murphy | 7-4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Ossai
58 DE
|
J. Ossai | 7-11 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Davis-Gaither
59 LB
|
A. Davis-Gaither | 6-9 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Battle
27 SAF
|
J. Battle | 4-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Tufele
97 DT
|
J. Tufele | 4-6 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Jenkins
90 DT
|
K. Jenkins | 3-6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Davis
35 CB
|
J. Davis | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Johnson
52 DE
|
C. Johnson | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Bachie
49 LB
|
J. Bachie | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Newton
28 CB
|
J. Newton | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Jackson
68 DT
|
M. Jackson | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Njongmeta
45 LB
|
M. Njongmeta | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Guy
93 DT
|
L. Guy | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
E. McPherson
2 K
59 FPTS
|
E. McPherson | 11/15 | 56 | 20/21 | 53 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |