Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow throws a pass against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024 in Cincinnati.
AP Photo | Carolyn Kaster
CINCINNATI — Approaching the halfway point of the season, the Las Vegas Raiders and Cincinnati Bengals are underperforming teams still searching for some kind of identity.
Both have struggled to run the ball, with the Bengals and Raiders 28th and 31st, respectively, in rushing yards in the league.
Las Vegas (2-6) finished its 27-20 loss to the Chiefs with only 33 yards on the ground, an average of 1.6 per carry. Alexander Mattison ran the ball 14 times for 15 yards.
Their defenses have been inconsistent, with Cincinnati (3-5) allowing 20 unanswered points in the second half in last week’s 37-17 loss to the Eagles.
The Raiders are one of 14 teams in NFL history to trail by double digits in each of their first eight games of a season.
“We’ve got to run the ball. Can’t do that,” Las Vegas coach Antonio Pierce said. “So, we’ll keep pounding again. Get back to work. Like I told the guys, man, we got to do this for another nine weeks and that’s what we signed up for. So, it’s not easy, it’s tough. Don’t like it. Wish it was easier.”
The Raiders are searching for all sorts of answers as they try to halt a four-game skid.
“It’s just something we got to keep working on and pounding on,” Pierce said.
The Bengals are looking for their first home win against four losses at Paycor Stadium. Their three wins this season have come against teams that currently have won a combined five games.
“I think you can say this shouldn’t be where we are, but this is where we’re at,” Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow said. “I don’t think you can look at it like that. You’ve got to adapt to the situation that presents itself, and this is the situation we find ourselves in.”
Confident Burrow
After the Eagles loss, Burrow said with confidence that the Bengals are capable of winning seven of their last nine games to get the 10 victories likely needed to make the playoffs.
His attitude may be justified, given that he historically has been at his best in November and December. He has a 20-8 record in games from November to January. His best month is December, when he has a 6-2 record and a 108.3 passer rating.
Most of those wins came during 2021 and 2022 playoff runs.
Last year, he was sidelined from Nov. 16 on when he injured his wrist. He was 1-1 in November at the time.
“The one thing I do know is we have one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL,” Bengals special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons said this week when asked about the state of the team. “That’s always a great place to start. When you have a quarterback like we have and some teams do not, it always gives you hope.”
Holding off the rush
The Chiefs spent much of the second half Sunday blitzing the Raiders, recording five sacks for the game. Given the Bengals’ propensity to send extra rushers, the Raiders are preparing for a similar game plan this weekend.
“They do a good job of it,” Las Vegas quarterback Gardner Minshew said. “A couple of their (defensive backs) are good. (Trey) Hendrickson is great off the edge, so you’ve got to be aware, got to have a plan for how they attack you like that.”
Gesicki steps in
The Bengals signed Mike Gesicki as a pass-catching tight end, and that’s what he’s been doing. With receiver Tee Higgins out last week because of a quad injury, Gesicki had his second seven-catch game of the season, leading the team with 73 receiving yards. He has 25 receptions for 253 yards this season, including 91 in a 26-25 loss to the Chiefs on Sept. 15.
Back at center
Jackson Powers-Johnson won the Rimington Trophy last season at Oregon, which goes to the nation’s best center in college football.
But when the Raiders drafted him in the second round this year, they did so with the idea he would play guard. That is until starting center Andre James went out with an ankle injury in Sunday’s 27-20 loss to the Chiefs.
Powers-Johnson finished the game at center and is practicing at that position this week in case James can’t play.
“I’m just continuing to lean on (his experience at center) and lean on the preparation,” Powers-Johnson said. “It’s definitely helping getting back in the swing of things.”
