Bengals v Packer: Position-by-Position Breakdown

Quarterback:

While Dalton is a good QB, this isn’t a fair fight. With his accuracy and mobility, Aaron Rodgers is the best all-around QB in the NFL – hands down. Think about this for a moment: in the last 2 seasons, Aaron Rodgers has averaged, 4,500+ yards, 42 TDs, a 117.0 rating, 68% completion, 2.5 rushing TDs and just 7 INTs. All of that with 0 running threat and going against defenses solely geared on stopping the pass and nothing else. For comparison, Dalton has had two very solid seasons, and during that time period, Rodgers is averaging 1,000+ more yards, 19.5 more TDs and half the INTs of Dalton. That is insane!

	Bengals	Packers
QB		ü
OL	ü
RB	ü
WR		ü
TE	ü
DL	ü
LB	Push	Push
CB	ü
S	ü
K	ü
Coach		ü
Overall	ü

Advantage: Packers

 

Offensive Line:

The Packers OL has played better so far, but that isn’t saying much –after all, they are still on pace for giving up 48 sacks. This is an OL that has allowed Rodgers to be sacked 168 times over the last 4 years (42 times per year)! During that period, Rodgers has been sacked 30+ times every year and 50+ times twice (including 2012)! To make matters worse, Starks 100 yards rushing game last Sunday was the first Packers RB to get 100+ yards since the 1^st round of the 2010 playoffs – that was 40 games ago (January 9^th 2010 – also Starks). In fact, since the start of 2010, the Packers have had just three 100 yard rushing days (Brandon Jackson -10/10/10; James Starks 1/9/11 and 9/15/13). The Bengals OL has given up just 1 sack combined to the Bears and Steelers and have had more 100 yard rushers in their last 9 regular season games (4) than the Packers have had in their last 50 (2).The Packers OL will have their hands full with this Bengals DL.

Advantage: Bengals

 

Running Backs:

Starks had a great week last week (132 yards), but keep in mind, that was against the 32^nd ranked Redskins defense, a defense that has given up 60 more rushing yards than the 31^st place team and through 2 games, have given up an average of 201 yards on the ground! As we saw on Monday night, BJGE and Giovani Bernard provide a potent 1-2 punch and allow the Bengals to pound the football when needed, and create matchup nightmares in the passing game when needed. Based on their versatility and their ability to keep each other fresh, BJGE and Gio have a clear advantage hear.

Advantage: Bengals

 

Wide Receivers:

There are two tiers here. At #1, the Bengals have the clear advantage with Green (regardless of whether you count Nelson or Cobb as GB’s #1). However, GBs trio of WRs (Nelson, Cobb and Jones) create more problems combined and have career production that dwarfs that of the Bengals top 3 WRs (Green, Sanu and Jones) – 600+ receptions and 9,000+ career yards compared to the Bengals trio (224 receptions and 3,000+ career yards). While the Bengals have the most dominant single WR in this matchup, the depth of the Packers WR talent makes the Packers harder to shut down.

Advantage: Packers

 

Tight Ends:

While Finley is a very good TE (11 receptions for 121 yards), there is only one of him. The Bengals have 2 TEs in Gresham and Eifert who are each as good if not better than Finley and they use them well (19 receptions for 214 yards). The Bengals 2 TE formation has been causing defenses issues and the Packers will likely be no different. This game will feature 3 of the top TEs in the game, two of which will be wearing stripes and on the field at the same time. Therefore, the Bengals have the edge at TE.

Advantage: Bengals

 

Defensive Line:

With Atkins, Dunlap, MJ and Peko, this is not even a debate and likely will be the key to this matchup. Rodgers will hold onto the ball and take sacks, so the Bengals have to take their shots when they get them and go for strips and tips. If the Bengals DL cannot make Rodgers uncomfortable in the pocket, he will pick this secondary apart.

Advantage: Bengals

 

Line Backers:

The Packers have the best LB on the field (Matthews), but Vontaze Burfict isn’t far behind. Though I think the Bengals have more ability across the board at LB (rarely is that the case), I see this as a push simply because of the game-changing playmaking ability of Clay Matthews.

Advantage: Push

 

Cornerbacks:

With Hall, Newman, Jones and Kirkpatrick, the Bengals have such a clear edge at CB that it doesn’t even matter that Kirkpatrick is out and Jones is dinged up. The only problem for the Bengals is that despite their clear advantage, they still couldn’t cover this group of receivers even with all hands on deck. With Kirkpatrick down and Jones slowed, this secondary could be in for a very long day on Sunday.

Advantage: Bengals

 

Safeties:

Again, another place the Bengals have a surprising advantage…and again, another advantage which doesn’t amount to much. While I like Reggie Nelson, he and his running mate are certainly nothing spectacular on the back end. The advantage by the Bengals is more a result of the Packers simply being weaker at safety than the Bengals are. The Packers elected not to resign Charles Woodson in the offseason, a move I understand if they had 1 or 2 good young safeties in the wings – they don’t. The loss of Woodson deprived the Packers of their best playmaker and leader in the secondary.

Advantage: Bengals

 

Kicker:

Mike Nugent is a solid, not great kicker. Mason Crosby is not a great or solid kicker. Little known fact is that Mason Crosby has been one of the least accurate kickers in the NFL over the past few years. Lucky for Crosby and the Packers, he normally just has to kick extra points. If the game comes down to a long FG, the Bengals should feel more comfortable than the pack. Somehow though, I don’t see this game coming down to FGs.

Advantage: Bengals

 

Coach:

If the goal of coaching is to be undisciplined, unprepared and manage the game (specifically TOs and ends of halves) the way a teenage girl manages her text messages, then Marvin Lewis has the advantage. If however, that is not the goal, Mike Sherman has the advantage. I believe the goal is not the former, therefore I give Sherman the nod – the very big nod here.

Advantage: Packers