CINCINNATI --Defense is a Bengals strength in recent years, and although they give up plenty of yards -- ranking 20th -- their indicators are much better in yardage per play (10th) and points allowed per game (10th).
Their push toward the top of the AFC North standings after 14 games has not been fueled by their front four, as had been expected before the season. But led by Geno Atkins, who has played his best football of the season since the start of November, Cincinnati's defense -- particularly its line -- has momentum, which crested with a shutout at Cleveland last week.
"They played really well," said Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning. "'Dominated' is a good word. From the start, defensively, they didn't give Cleveland any type of momentum, barely let them move the ball, created three interceptions and really played well."
"Their guys are playing well," Broncos Offensive Coordinator Adam Gase said. "We're looking at the tape and you're seeing a team that causes a lot of problems."
That starts with their pass rush, which sacked Cleveland rookie Johnny Manziel three times in 21 pass plays last week.
Cincinnati's sack rate remains among the league's lowest -- one every 30.17 pass plays, 31st in the league. But in the last three games, the Bengals have averaged one quarterback hurry (as tabulated by ProFootballFocus.com) every 3.0 pass plays. They averaged one hurry every 3.5 pass plays in Weeks 1-3, but in the eight games that followed, their rate dropped to one every 4.19 pass plays.
"They've got a great blitz package, and they're playing well in their base defense when they're not blitzing," Gase said. "This is a challenge for us."
The clash between physical freaks Aqib Talib and A.J. Green should be fun to watch, while Terrance Knighton draws another rookie center.
We won't know until the game begins how the Broncos plan to match up with the Bengals' wide receivers, but Talib seems like a good fit to draw Green, who's been to the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons. This may be Sunday's marquee matchup, with two lanky, Gumby-like athletes that can move and attack the ball in the air with the best of them. Green was bothered by a toe injury in the middle of the season but has rounded back into form, putting up a 224-yard game two weeks ago against the Steelers. "He's just one of the top guys in the league," Talib said of Green. "Just that size, that speed and that play-making ability. The guy can flat out play football." Meanwhile, Talib is coming off perhaps his best game as a Bronco, shutting down Malcom Floyd and reading Philip Rivers' eyes to make a terrific fourth-quarter interception. If he can disrupt Green's routes at the line of scrimmage and use his downfield safety help to his advantage, Andy Dalton's most dangerous weapon could be marginalized.
Hill, who Head Coach John Fox called "outstanding," offers excellent size and power with surprising agility and good feet."He's physical, has good vision, he has good burst through the hole," Fox said. "I think he has good hands. They don't utilize him as much in that role but he's a big reason why they're fighting for their division championship and he's been a big part of that, especially down the stretch."With Nate Irving and Danny Trevathan on injured reserve and Brandon Marshall battling a foot injury, Johnson may start at middle linebacker on Sunday, while Davis could be called upon for meaningful snaps as well, like he was a week ago. Johnson is one of the few healthy veterans at the position, and brings plenty of thump filling gaps in the run game, while Jack Del Rio has praised Davis' preparation since joining the team a few weeks ago.If the pair can meet the standard the Broncos' linebackers have set this season in run defense and keep Hill's gains to a minimum, a key part of the Bengals' attack could be cut out, forcing Andy Dalton to throw more often.
For the second consecutive week, Knighton will line up opposite a rookie center. Against the Chargers, Knighton gave Chris Watt all he could handle and helped the Broncos stifle the run game, limiting San Diego to 56 yards on 20 carries (2.8 average). Bodine has been up and down this season, and currently grades out as Pro Football Focus' 34th best center this season. With the Bengals' recent emphasis on the ground, expect them to give Bodine plenty of help on Knighton with double teams as they try to get Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard going. But don't be surprised if the big defensive tackle ruins Cincy's plans with another disruptive game.
Atkins has had a quiet year, by his standards, coming off a torn ACL suffered midseason in 2013 against the Dolphins. A double-digit sack artist in 2012, Atkins has only three this season but is starting to work back into form. He's had 1.5 sacks in the last three weeks and a tackle for loss in each of the last four games. Ramirez will often draw Atkins in run and pass blocking, and may get help in pass protection to deal with Atkins' "dancing bear" agility. The better Ramirez does, the more room Manning will have to step up and throw downfield.
Thomas played his first snaps in almost a month last Sunday in San Diego, getting in on 29 plays against the Chargers and making a beautiful 30-yard catch down the sideline. One week further removed from his ankle injury, Thomas' role may increase against a depleted linebacking corps. Vontaze Burfict struggled with injuries throughout the year and is now on injured reserve, putting Rey in the starting lineup after he started just four games in his first four seasons. The Bengals were burned by tight ends from the Patriots (Rob Gronkowski and Tim Wright), Panthers (Greg Olsen) and Colts (Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener) in Weeks 5-7, but have improved since. In Weeks 8-15, the Bengals' defense allowed just one TD to a tight end and limited every opponent to less than 50 receiving yards at the position. If Rey can help that trend continue against Thomas, Peyton Manning may have to look elsewhere through the air.
Cincinnati is not timid about using linebackers Rey Maualuga and Vincent Rey in the pass rush, and will involve safety Reggie Nelson, who has 1.5 sacks and has been involved in the pass rush 52 times, according to ProFootballFocus.com. Nelson and fellow safety George Iloka are a sod duo; Iloka is a solid all-around safety with decent range in courage and some thump against the run.
Together, Nelson and Iloka give the Bengals tactical flexibility to confuse opponents.
"It's a different kind of challenge because we haven't really seen a team that's this multiple as far as their nickel package," Gase said. "We have our work cut out for us. It's going to be one of those [games] -- we've got to be really dialed in this week."
CINCINNATI BY THE NUMBERS
TOTAL DEFENSE
- Yards per game: 358.4, 20th
- Points per game:20.64, 10th
- Yards per play: 5.31, 10th
- Takeaways: 19, T-21st
- First-down rate: One every 3.55 plays, 19th
- Third-down conversion rate: 36.98 pct., 9th
PASSING
- Yards per game: 233.64, 12th
- Yards per pass play: 6.02, 9th
- Sack rate: One per 30.17 pass plays, 31st
- Interception rate: One per 38.79 pass plays, 13th
- Touchdown rate: One every 38.79 pass plays, 1st
- First-down rate: One per 3.23 pass plays, 5th
RUSHING
- Yards per game: 124.79, 24th
- Yards per rush: 4.35, 23rd
- First-down rate: One every 4.10 carries, 26th
- Touchdown rate: One every 26.80 carries, 28th
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