Dallas City News

Under head coach Zac Taylor, the Cincinnati Bengals have drastically altered the franchise’s perception. Sure, there were times under Marvin Lewis when the team would make the playoffs, but it was never a genuine threat to compete for championships. That’s changed in recent years as Cincinnati has made two AFC title games and a Super Bowl appearance dating back to 2021. The Bengals are the Bungles no more. The Bengals are an aggressive and competitive team that has shown it can go toe-to-toe with the AFC powerhouses like the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills.

Last season, the team missed the playoffs with a winning record, falling fourth in a challenging AFC North division. Quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending injury, but Taylor and the Bengals kept things together as best they could heading into the end of the regular season. Burrow, now healthy, places expectations on the Bengals to be “Super.”

Pressure on the team and Joe Burrow seem intrinsically tied together. One part is winning a championship, and the other is if Burrow can stay healthy. The Dallas Cowboys have handled the Bengals well in recent history, winning their last five meetings. Let’s see who are the x-factors that will help decide this matchup for the Bengals.

Opponent: Cincinnati Bengals

2023 record: 9-8, 4th place in the AFC North

Date(s) on the schedule: Week 14, Dec 9th

Chase Brown, running back

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The Bengals are still a formidable opponent and have shown that over the last few years. However, they’ve also shaken things up with their roster by moving on from older veterans. Such is the case with the Bengals moving on from former Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon. Cincinnati traded Mixon to the Houston Texans for a seventh-round draft choice earlier in the offseason and leaves the Bengals backfield wide open. Some assume that the backfield belongs to free agent pickup Zack Moss after a 794-yard performance in 2023 with the Indianapolis Colts in relief of Jonathan Taylor. Yet, second-year runner Chase Brown is a name to watch out for.

In college at Illinois, Brown was highly productive and ran for 1,643 yards in 2022. Carrying the Fighting Illini offense for Bret Bielema takes a rugged type of runner, and while in college, Brown filled the role. He’s tough between the tackles, but also has speed to take it the distance as evidenced by 4.43 forty-yard dash time at the scouting combine in 2023 when he also has 25 reps on the bench press. Brown is a high-functioning athlete who’s equally as rugged when running through the holes. He also provides enough upside as a receiver to warrant third-down duties. In his rookie season, he saw limited carries but made the most of them, averaging over four yards per attempt. By the time, the Cowboys meet the Bengals, Brown could be the featured back in the Bengals’ offense, taking some of the pressure off of Joe Burrow.

Logan Wilson, Linebacker

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Logan Wilson is one of the more underappreciated and overlooked players in the NFL. Since occupying a larger role for the Bengals defense in 2021, Wilson has made himself an integral piece on that side of the ball. Wilson has led the Bengals in tackles over the past three seasons, increasing his totals from 100, 123, and 135 in those subsequent years. He’s been terrific for the Cincinnati defense, but he needs to get the recognition he deserves nationally. For his exploits, Wilson has yet to receive any NFL accolades, but that doesn’t mean he can ignored by the Cowboys offense.

Per PFF, Wilson was rated in the top 32 linebackers in the NFL last season at 26th on the list. Wilson took a big leap last season in pass coverage with four interceptions and nine passes defended. He’s a very instinctual player who rarely gets caught out of position. Wilson can wreck the Cowboys’ running game before it starts if the offensive line does not account for him. His running mate Germaine Pratt is also an ascending player, and he and Wilson have good chemistry. He’s also versatile and can play either the strong side or the mike linebacker. Keep your eyes on #55.

Cam Taylor-Britt, Cornerback

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Over the past few seasons, the Cincinnati secondary has undergone changes, saying goodbye to several veterans in the defensive backfield. At cornerback, they relied on veterans Eli Apple and Chidobe Awuzie. The secondary is in good hands, led by third-year defender Cam Taylor-Britt, who has excellent cornerback traits. As a talent, Taylor-Britt has outstanding speed, which allows him to make up ground quickly when beaten and trailing receivers. He’s got a very competitive demeanor and will use his 31-inch arms to disrupt receivers at the point of the catch.

In 2023, Taylor-Britt had the best season of his young career in pass coverage, with four interceptions and 11 passes defended. The Bengals front four can generate a lot of pressure and keep two safeties over the top of the deep halves, allowing Taylor-Britt to matchup in tight one-on-one coverage with Dallas’ receivers. Thanks to his skills, the Bengals will be confident even when he has to cover CeeDee Lamb.