Atlanta Falcons at Cincinnati Bengals preview: Week Two
By Brad Rowland
After a fantastic, come-from-behind victory over the New Orleans Saints in week one, the Atlanta Falcons hit the road for the first time during the 2014 NFL season, as they head to Ohio to take on the Cincinnati Bengals in week two. The Bengals enter as the default favorite in the AFC North, based on preseason expectations and a 23-16 victory over the Baltimore Ravens in week one, and from a national perspective, Cincinnati is “expected” to topple Atlanta in their own building. Let’s take a look at the match-up.
Opponent: Cincinnati Bengals
Time/TV: 1:00 pm ET, CBS
Falcons Offense vs. Bengals Defense
In case you were under a rock last Sunday, Matt Ryan was excellent in the season opener. Ryan led the NFL in passing yards with 445, and because of that, he earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his trouble. However, the Bengals could pose all kinds of problems for the Atlanta offense if things go terribly. Cincinnati had issues stopping the pass against Joe Flacco (of all people) in week one, but the talent level his high on the defensive side of the ball for the Bengals, and it will be important to keep an eye on the injury report with regard to All-Pro defensive lineman (and former UGA star) Geno Atkins.
On the ground, things are very much up in the air with regard to the running back rotation for Atlanta, but fortunately, the four-headed monster was effective against New Orleans. Still, the Bengals are better suited to stop the run, and it will be incredibly interesting to see who garners the majority of touches for the Falcons. A healthy Steven Jackson is the best bet to see extended time, but any of the other trio of backs could play a prominent role if called upon, and I suppose that depth is never a “bad” thing.
All in all, this isn’t a disastrous match-up for the birds, but playing outdoors against a team with the tools to play high-end defense isn’t the best recipe in the world.
Falcons Defense vs. Bengals Offense
Dalton has become a punchline in many NFL circles, but the Cincinnati QB threw for 301 yards against Baltimore in the opener, and he keeps putting up solid numbers despite ugly circumstance. With a gun to my head, I would say that the Falcons certainly have the personnel to force Dalton into a big mistake in the passing game, but with A.J. Green on board, there is a dynamic potential as well. Speaking of Green, Desmond Trufant will likely garner the assignment against one of the best in the league, and Green was electric in ripping off 131 yards and a score in the opener. The winner of the battle certainly has a leg up in the overall face-off.
Bengals RB Giovanni Bernard has high upside, but Cincy had all kinds of trouble running the ball in week one, and he is anything but a proven commodity between the tackles. The much-heralded improvements in run defense were non-existent against the Saints, with the Falcons allowing 123 yards on the ground to a team without a high-end running back, and this battle is something to monitor all day long.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, pass rush could be the biggest key to this game defensively. Atlanta had all kinds of trouble getting in the face of Drew Brees last week, and while Andy Dalton certainly isn’t Drew Brees, he is fully capable of beating any secondary if given ample time, and the Falcons have displayed a major weakness in rushing the passer.
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Overall, this is a winnable spot for the Falcons, but also one that doesn’t inspire a great deal of confidence in terms of the opponent. The Bengals are the AFC North favorite for a reason, and traditionally, the Mike Smith–Matt Ryan era has been marked by teams that have issues winning on the road against quality teams. Either way, we should be in store for a competitive product, and with a win, Atlanta can send a big-time message to the rest of the NFC South.
Stay tuned for post-game coverage, and a live game thread that will open on Sunday morning. Be sure to follow ATL All Day for the latest on the Falcons.