The Payments will welcome the Bengals at residence in an NFL Week 14 matchup in Orchard Park for the primary time for the reason that two golf equipment confronted off in a November third contest through the 2023 season that Cincy received 24-18.
Buffalo has solely received two out of the final eight head-to-head conferences between the 2 groups going again to 2011.
Commercial
QB Josh Allen and firm haven’t discovered successful in opposition to their Ohio neighbors to be simple, and so they’ll be put to the take a look at Sunday by a group that has had extra success in opposition to them than vice versa.
Sean McDermott’s membership has added some new expertise since their final encounter, and the Payments can’t afford to lose any extra video games if they’re to make the postseason and make a run.
It should all begin at residence in entrance of Payments followers on Sunday.
With that, listed here are three keys to a Buffalo Payments victory in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals in NFL Week 14:
1. Assault The Protection
Nov 30, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Buffalo Payments quarterback Josh Allen (17) warms up earlier than the sport in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Pictures
The Bengals enter the matchup at Buffalo with a 4-8 document and one of many worst defenses within the NFL statistically his season. Cincinnati has notably struggled defending the ball within the air and on the bottom, giving up 26 passing touchdowns and 14 dashing touchdowns on the season, as they’ve had a fair worse run protection than Buffalo has this 12 months.
Commercial
Cincinnati has allowed opposing beginning operating backs 100 yards per sport with 6.0 yards per stick with it common over the previous 10 weeks. The Payments have one of many high RB1s within the NFL in James Prepare dinner, and are 14-2 when he has over 18 rushes previously three seasons. Attacking areas of weak point within the protection might be key to a Payments win.
2. Keep Nicely Grounded
Nov 30, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Buffalo Payments operating again James Prepare dinner III (4) rushes through the fourth quarter in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Pictures
The dynamic menace of Josh Allen, James Prepare dinner, Ray Davis, and Ty Johnson, when efficient, is a high-octane one. Operating the ball and throwing to maintain shifting the chains and scoring factors will run down the clock and maintain Joe Burrow and the Bengals receivers off the sphere if Buffalo wins time of possession.
Commercial
If Allen can add the specter of his legs, and Davis and Johnson can pull their weight behind one other sturdy efficiency from Prepare dinner, the Buffalo floor assault could show to be an excessive amount of for the Bengals’ protection to deal with. It may additionally maintain the Cincinnati defenders off-balance to take advantage of their poor pass-protection as nicely.
3. Win All Three Phases
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) carries the ball as Buffalo Payments defensive finish Greg Rousseau (50) defends within the second quarter throughout an NFL divisional playoff soccer sport between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Buffalo Payments, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023, at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. Cincinnati Bengals At Buffalo Payments Afc Divisional Jan 22 1207
The Bengals received Burrow again from a protracted stint this season, lacking time with an harm. Turnaround was instantaneous of their matchup in opposition to the Ravens, who they beat 32-14.
The Bengals could have been overshadowed by the Chiefs as an AFC rival of the Payments in latest seasons, but they’ve been profitable within the win column in opposition to Buffalo in addition to Kansas Metropolis, usually in that span. It could be a pleasant option to flip the web page on the losses in latest reminiscence with a win.
Commercial
It is going to be necessary for the Payments’ offense and particular groups to complete drives by placing factors on the board at each alternative to construct a robust sufficient lead. And for the protection and particular groups to restrict their opponent from doing the identical. If the Payments’ secondary can proceed to carry out at a excessive stage to comprise the Bengals’ receiving corps, the move rush can strain Burrow, and the defensive position can maintain in opposition to the run, will probably be key to unlocking victory.
This text initially appeared on Payments Wire: 3 keys to a Payments victory in opposition to the Bengals in NFL Week 14
Leave a Reply