Monday | 8:15 ET
The Bengals’ season has been extremely underwhelming thus-far. They are 0-2, and haven’t looked good doing it. QB Joe Burrow is playing injured, and the Cincinnati offense has been underperforming as a result. They have put themselves into a position in which Monday Night’s matchup against the Rams is pivotal. The story of the 2023 LA Rams has been nearly the exact opposite of the Bengals. They were expected to be one of the NFL’s bottom-feeders, but have come out of the gates strong. LA destroyed the Seahawks in Seattle in Week 1, and put up a good fight versus the 49ers (who may be the best team in the NFL) last week. They are looking to take their good vibes into Cincinnati and bury the Bengals.
It’s no secret why the Bengals have struggled on offense this year. The offense finished 1st in PFF passing grade in 2022. In 2023, they rank 27th in the same stat. Now, whether this is due to Burrow’s health, a rainy Week 1 game, the strength of the opposing defenses, or a combination of the three, is yet to be determined.
This week, LA’s defense will provide much less of a challenge than Baltimore or Cleveland’s. The Bengals need to use this as a get-right game. The Rams are dead-last in PFF coverage grade this season. Week 3 provides the perfect opportunity for Joe Burrow to regain some confidence. Ja’Marr Chase has had a slow start to the season. I expect him will be a massive part of Cincy’s gameplan in Week 3. From the Rams’ perspective, it is vital to stop the pass. I expect them to sit back and play a conservative form of defense in an attempt to make Burrow beat them by a thousand paper cuts.
The 2023 Rams offense can be summarized in two words: Puka Nacua. With star WR Cooper Kupp out with an injury, the rookie has slid right into his vacated role. In fact, he’s done much more than that, breaking the NFL record for the most catches in a player’s first two games (30). He has been QB Matt Stafford’s security blanket, and I don’t expect this to change in Week 3. Led by the now-healthy Stafford, LA’s offense has been been great so far. They’ve been able to both run and pass the ball well. Cincinnati plays a lot of cover 2, so they may try to lean into Kyren Williams and the ground game. Still, expect to see lots of passes (many of them to Puka Nacua) from Stafford and the Rams, who will probably be trailing.
In all, this is a fun matchup. Both quarterbacks are quick, efficient throwers. Monday Night should bring fans a clean, entertaining game. I expect the Bengals offense to explode. They will feast upon a weak, young Rams secondary. Ja’Marr Chase will have his first big game of the year, and Cincinnati will leave the stadium with their first win of the 2023 campaign.