The Cincinnati Bengals play one of the more uncommon opponents possible in Week 5 thanks to a cross-conference battle with the Arizona Cardinals.
Those Cardinals are one of the more interesting teams in the NFL too. The 1-3 record just doesn’t do the team’s performance justice so far, especially with star quarterback Kyler Murray still out rehabbing an injury.
Buy Bengals TicketsWith the Cardinals so interesting and the Bengals with so much at stake as they look to save the season on the road, we thought it best to sit down with an Arizona expert to get the inside scoop on the matchup.
Here’s a look at our quick Q&A session with Cards Wire editor Jess Root.
How, if at all, has the offense shifted (or even improved?) while Josh Dobbs starts in place of Kyler Murray?
Cards Wire: Well, since it is a new offensive system in which we have not seen Murray play, that is tough to say. Now, in terms of changing offenses, it is based in West Coast principles. They use the run game and play action (highest play action usage in the league so far), There is more motion, more under center and more moving the quarterback. I don’t expect the concepts to change much when Murray gets back. I expect it to look more explosive. Dobbs has been very efficient and safe with the football.
Bengals fans don’t get a lot of exposure to the Cardinals, so who are some underrated names to know?
Cards Wire: Rookie receiver Michael Wilson has been quietly productive. He is on pace for a 1,000-yard season and would be the first third-round receiver to do that since Keenan Allen.
On defense, Dennis Gardeck has four sacks this season already and Victor Dimukeje has 2.5. Gardeck had seven sacks in 2020 in only 96 defensive snaps but, before this year, only one other sack in his career that started in 2018. Dimukeje was a 2021 sixth-round pick who has flourished in this system.
Paris Johnson Jr. was a big name in the Cincinnati high school scene. How’s he doing now?
Cards Wire: He is being a stud at right tackle. He was placed into the starting role basically immediately and has been very good. He looks like a slam dunk of a draft pick and a guy they can count on for years at tackle.
Who on the defense should concern a struggling Bengals offense?
Cards Wire: Gardeck. He is making right tackles look silly with his new spin move. Linebacker Kyzir White is physical and can do it all. He had a monster game against the Cowboys.
Other than that, they will attack the edge with a rotation of guys who will challenge Orlando Brown and Jonah Williams. Gardeck, Dimukeje, Zaven Collins and Cameron Thomas have all been making plays.
How do you see this one playing out?
Cards Wire: I expect the Cardinals to be able to move the ball on offense as they have at home, scoring 28 points in each game so far. James Conner will have a solid game, forcing the Cincy defense to stay on the field. I do expect Arizona’s defense to cause problems for the offense but a healthy Burrow starts to make improvements. It is a tight game in which the Cardinals get a late field goal to extend the lead. Cardinals 23, Bengals 17.
