Bengals vs. Vikings Matchups to Watch: Jake Browning takes on the blitz
It's December, and the Cincinnati Bengals are winning football games. This shouldn't be that big of a surprise. They're 8-2 in this month since 2021, and those two losses came first. That this eight-game win streak in the most important stretch of the regular season has persisted without the franchise quarterback is where the shock […]
It's December, and the Cincinnati Bengals are winning football games. This shouldn't be that big of a surprise. They're 8-2 in this month since 2021, and those two losses came first. That this eight-game win streak in the most important stretch of the regular season has persisted without the franchise quarterback is where the shock factor comes into play.
At some point, we have to accept that this team is simply well coached, from all angles. They figure out their deficiencies (what team doesn't have them?) and sort it all out when the chips are down. Coaching is what gets you to this point, but players still win you games.
When the Minnesota Vikings come to town Saturday afternoon, there will be plenty of player matchups to focus in on. Here are three that will greatly impact how the game goes.
ED Trey Hendrickson vs. LT Christian Darrisaw
When I think of perfect trench battles, I gravitate towards not just two of the best facing off against one another, but two players with similar ways of winning athletically meeting for 50+ times in three hours. Hendrickson vs. Darrisaw is so enticing because the former's power combined with his ability to flatten at the apex is a perfect concoction to test Darrisaw's anchor and length.
This season has confirmed that Hendrickson is indeed one of the elite edge defenders in the game. Darrisaw has only strengthen his case on becoming one of the elite left tackles in the very near future, if he isn't there already. They will show this battle at future pass rushing and offensive line clinics.
Bengals secondary vs. TE T.J. Hockenson
Imagine if the Bengals didn't hold onto Tanner Hudson? They would have the worst tight end group in the league, and would still be facing an absolute gauntlet of opposing tight ends. The likes of George Kittle, Dalton Kincaid, Dalton Schultz, Pat Friermuth, and Evan Engram, have given the Bengals' defense fits in recent weeks. Those five combined for 503 yards against Cincinnati. That's WR1 numbers.
Enter the NFL's most heavily-targeted tight end in Hockenson, with 85 catches, 839 yards, and five touchdowns to his name. Only Travis Kelce (another tight end on the Bengals' schedule) has more yards. Only a handful have scored one more touchdown. Hockenson has produced no matter the quarterback throwing him the ball, and he's got a defense that cannot figure out how to contain his position.
QB Jake Browning vs. Vikings blitz
The man, the myth, the legend we're all excited to watch again. Browning has captivated Cincinnati over the last two weeks as his incredible efficiency at quarterback has galvanized a Bengals team that looked dead in the water. He's diced up two defenses that are statistically no better than middle of the pack.
Minnesota is a different animal.
Coordinated by the always aggressive Brian Flores, the Vikings' defense blitzes more than any other team, and it's a strategy that has worked in recent weeks. No defense has been better against the pass since Week 6 when looking at Expected Points Added allowed per drop back. They've allowed more than 20 points just twice since then. They're a nightmare for any quarterback that can't diagnose quickly.
Browning's post-snap processing, something that's been minimized beautifully by Cincinnati's play-calling these last two weeks, remains his biggest weakness. It will be put to the ultimate test Saturday afternoon.
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