GLENDALE, Ariz. — Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals have not appeared very similar to an elite group via 4 weeks.
There’s time for that to vary. But it surely must occur quickly.
The Bengals (1-3) journey to face the Arizona Cardinals (1-3) on Sunday in a recreation that Burrow has already declared a virtually must-win matchup.
Cincinnati has loved deep playoff runs the previous two seasons, together with a visit to the Tremendous Bowl in the course of the 2021 season.
“I’m nonetheless very assured in what we have now,” Burrow mentioned. “We’ve received to get higher. We’ve scored three touchdowns. That’s not close to adequate. We’ve received a methods to go, however we have now the blokes in that room to do it, we’ve received the coaches to do it.”
“It’s been a tricky couple of weeks that’s for certain. However we’re going to get via it.” – Joe Burrow on #Bengals 1-3 begin. Burrow mentioned the Week 5 recreation in opposition to the Cardinals in Arizona is a “should win”. Burrow’s confidence has not wavered. @WCPO pic.twitter.com/m8fc9YCQ77
— Marshall Kramsky (@marshallkramsky) October 4, 2023
Burrow — who earlier than the season grew to become the highest-paid participant within the NFL — has been slowed by a calf damage that is restricted his mobility. The quarterback mentioned he felt good at follow on Wednesday and hasn’t had any setbacks with the calf since aggravating the damage late in a loss to Baltimore on Sept. 17.
“I attempt to not be annoyed,” Burrow mentioned. “That’s not going to get anyone anyplace. You simply adapt to what you’re coping with, adapt to how you could play. And you are taking that week to week, everyday.”
The Cardinals may need the identical file because the Bengals, however are in a a lot better temper about their state of affairs.
Arizona was extensively thought-about to be one of many worst groups within the league coming into the season, however the Cardinals have been surprisingly aggressive, and even knocked off the Dallas Cowboys at dwelling a couple of weeks in the past.
Quarterback Joshua Dobbs has been a strong fill-in for the injured Kyler Murray, a two-time Professional Bowl choice nonetheless working his means again from a knee damage suffered final season. Dobbs has accomplished 71% of his passes for 682 yards, 4 touchdowns, no interceptions and a 106.1 passer ranking over his previous three video games.
Cardinals linebacker Zaven Collins mentioned he is conscious that the Bengals have been struggling, however famous that their roster is filled with the identical guys who helped the group advance to the Tremendous Bowl two seasons in the past.
“You have to give credit score the place it is due, each group is an NFL group and so they’ve all received dudes on the roster,” Collins mentioned. “All of them do. We’ll deal with these guys with the identical respect in the event that they’re 0-4 or 4-0.”
STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM
The Cardinals protection is led by linebacker Dennis Gardeck, who has 4 sacks this season, which ranks sixth within the NFL. Gardeck has slowly risen the ranks from undrafted free agent to a significant a part of Arizona’s protection. Gardeck has 12 sacks in his profession, which is tied for essentially the most in franchise historical past for an undrafted free agent.
HIGGINS HURTING
The Bengals could possibly be with out one in every of their prime receivers on Sunday. Tee Higgins left final week’s loss to the Titans with a rib damage and hasn’t practiced. He’s thought-about everyday. Higgins has caught simply 12 of 32 targets in 4 video games for 129 yards, however has two of Cincinnati’s whole three touchdowns this season. Ja’Marr Chase doesn’t have any landing catches — extra the fault of a restricted Burrow and the offensive line — however is beginning to get some traction, getting 141 and 73 passing yards prior to now two video games.
WILSON EMERGES
The Cardinals look as if they could have discovered a steal within the third spherical of this 12 months’s draft. Receiver Michael Wilson — who performed in faculty at Stanford — has emerged as one of many group’s massive playmakers and had the primary two TD catches of his profession in opposition to the 49ers final week. He is at present second on the group with 237 yards receiving, simply behind Marquise Brown’s 239.
“He’s so locked into the sport plan,” Dobbs mentioned. “One, he executes at a excessive stage and his effort is super. Simply being a rookie receiver, plenty of occasions simply to get on the sphere typically you need to do soiled work. You’ve received to play ‘Z’ the place you’re somewhat extra concerned within the run recreation. You’re on the entrance facet of runs and you need to do sort of the soiled stuff that some receivers don’t love to do, and he appears to love to do it.”
BENGALS TE COULD RETURN
Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor mentioned tight finish Irv Smith Jr. is working his means again. He was listed as having restricted participation in follow on Wednesday after lacking the previous two video games with a hamstring damage. The previous Viking was signed as a free agent within the offseason to switch Hayden Hurst, who had 414 receiving yards and two TDs final season after which signed with Carolina.
“We’ll be good how we make the most of him,” Taylor mentioned.
PARIS VS. CINCINNATI
Cardinals rookie proper deal with Paris Johnson Jr. will likely be dealing with his hometown group. This 12 months’s sixth general decide performed his highschool ball in Cincinnati earlier than going to Ohio State. Johnson has instantly moved right into a beginning position for the Cardinals, anchoring the best facet of the offensive line all season.
“I believe that all the things that we’ve requested him to do on and off the sphere, he has executed that and possibly extra,” Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon mentioned. “I assume if I say it like that, he has exceeded some expectations, however he was taken the place he was taken for a cause.
“He performs a premium place and he’s performed nicely.”
