DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - The Cowboys are looking to bounce back from an ugly loss in Week 1, but their opponent in Week 2 is just as hungry as Dallas is.
Here’s a look at three key storylines for the Bengals heading into a pivotal game at AT&T Stadium:
Burrow Bounce Back?
It was a brutal season opener for Joe Burrow against the Steelers last week. Burrow threw four interceptions last Sunday, which is something he had never done in his professional or collegiate career. He also lost a fumble, giving him five turnovers in the game, en route to a heartbreaking overtime loss.
Burrow has shown resilience in the face of adversity, routinely bouncing back after poor games.
The last five times Burrow has had a multi-turnover performance, he’s 4-1 the following week with nearly 70% completions, a 102.9 passer rating, and nine touchdowns to three interceptions.
Will Burrow manage to bounce back against the Cowboys or will Week 1 simply mark the beginning of a Super Bowl hangover?
Offensive Line Woes
The Bengals offensive line struggles were a huge talking point during their run to the Super Bowl in 2021, so it’s no surprises that Cincinnati’s front office made it a point to bolster the unit this offseason.
They signed right tackle La’el Collins, right guard Alex Cappa, and center Ted Karras to a combined $74 million over the spring, and they drafted Cordell Volson in the fourth round to compete with 2021 second-rounder Jackson Carman (a job Volson ultimately won). The only returning starter is left tackle Jonah Williams, a former No. 11 overall selection out of Alabama.
The early returns from Week 1 were disappointing. The Bengals allowed seven sacks to open the season, tied for the most in the NFL. The left side of the line, with Williams and the rookie Volson, was particularly concerning for Cincinnati.
Will the unit show improvement in Week 2 or will the Cowboys take advantage of a porous group and force Joe Burrow into mistakes?
Injuries and Exhaustion at Wide Receiver
The Bengals enter Sunday’s contest in Dallas with questions about the health of one receiver and the fatigue of two others.
Tee Higgins, one of the better No. 2 receivers in the NFL, was forced to leave last week’s game against the Steelers and has been working through concussion protocol this week.
While Higgins is expected to play on Sunday, he hasn’t been able to get in the normal reps of a typical practice week.
Higgins’ departure in the Pittsburgh game meant a lot of work for Tyler Boyd and Ja’Marr Chase. Boyd played 80 snaps, and Chase played a jaw-dropping 100 snaps in Week 1. In addition to the triple-digit snaps Chase played, he also moved around the formation more than he ever has, playing all three receiver spots.
The health and fatigue factor at receiver will be a big key for Dallas’ chances against the defending AFC champs.
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