Cincinnati Bengals: Keys to victory, players to watch vs. Panthers in Week 3

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BALTIMORE, MD – DECEMBER 31: Wide Receiver Tyler Boyd #83 of the Cincinnati Bengals scores a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Will Green’s Fellow WRs Leave A Mark?

Last week, Cincinnati’s success on offense was fueled in a big way by their reliance on A.J. Green. As they scored on four straight drives at one point in the first half, the first three of those scores went to Green. By the time Baltimore was able to get any footing on offense, they were already down three scores, and though they eventually made things close (28-23 in the fourth quarter), they couldn’t quite get out of the hole Green buried them in.

As great as Green is, however, he can’t do it all himself every single game. Throughout his time in Cincinnati it has often been him and a bunch of nondescript pieces; his greatness as an individual has been critical to what success Cincinnati has found since he was drafted.

But having an offense (and quarterback) need to rely so heavily in one man to make an attack run is begging for trouble — trouble we’ve seen strike down the team in the form of discombobulated turnovers by Dalton, disappointingly quick playoff ousters, and the absolute last place offense in terms of yardage last season.

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Cincinnati has been spending considerable resources on fixing this issue in recent years though, and the wide receiver group around Green is now filled with burgeoning talents. A 2017 first round pick was spent on the record-breaking speed of John Ross. Tyler Boyd was a 2016 third round selection. A 2017 fourth-rounder brought in Josh Malone.

Alex Erickson is mainly valued for return duties, but has also been reliable when used at receiver. Cody Core hasn’t made it onto the field much, but he has undeniable speed to burn. Even 2018 seventh round pick Auden Tate, who forced his way onto the final roster, has something to offer (specifically contested catches).

Through two games, there hasn’t been much impact from the receivers not named Green. Boyd and Ross are the only others to have any catches, and though Ross has a touchdown catch, he has only two catches and six receiving yards to couple with it.

This must change if Cincinnati will win against the Panthers. Even after a disappointing showing against Atlanta, Carolina has a defense which ranks seventh in Football Outsiders’ Defensive DVOA against opposing No. 1 receivers through two contests; though they don’t have one single player who can handle Green, they’ll almost definitely have him either bracketed or shadowed on every single snap.

Tight end Tyler Eifert will be an option, but Luke Kuechly is a force to be reckoned with and will likely be right where Eifert is expected to be used. Dumpoffs and wheel routes can be used from the backfield, but while Giovani Bernard is still a quality option Joe Mixon is out for a couple weeks.

These wideouts must step up now, whether it be from the slot or on the outside opposite Green. James Bradberry, Captain Munnerlyn, Donte Jackson, and Corn Elder each may be talented in their own respects, but Cincinnati’s receivers each have enough talent themselves to win against any of them.

If Boyd can replicate his effort from against Baltimore against Munnerlyn in the slot, Ross can showcase his speed on the outside the way he did in the preseason, or one of the others can step up and take advantage of more exploitable matchups versus lesser depth pieces (if not all three), it would help the offense perform well even if Green can’t shake free — and if he does as well, they could have an explosive afternoon.

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