Week 4 of the season begins off with the battle of shock groups. Last 12 months the Cincinnati Bengals shocked the league and took that momentum all the best way to the Super Bowl. Through three weeks in 2022, the Miami Dolphins take that crown as they’re 3-0 with a large victory over this 12 months’s Super Bowl favorites, the Buffalo Bills. This showdown in Cincy ought to be one other thriller for a lot of causes.
Typically, in a matchup the place each groups function quarterbacks that had been each taken in the identical draft, that’s the place all the eye is directed. However, individuals are speaking concerning the broad receiver vs. cornerback matchups this time. Most notably Tyreek Hill in opposition to Eli Apple. These two have been speaking smack since final season when the Bengals beat the Kansas City Chiefs twice inside a number of weeks.
Apple is thought for operating his mouth, however after Cincinnati’s win over Hill and the Chiefs within the AFC championship sport, it’s been taken to a different stage. It doesn’t matter the place Hill performs; he owes Apple after final 12 months. Hill stated as a lot to the media as he minimize a professional wrestling model promo sporting his “Macho Man” Randy Savage sun shades.
G/O Media could get a fee
Of course, the semi-main occasion is the QB matchup between Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa. Burrow was the No. 1 general decide within the 2020 draft, with Tua going 4 picks later at No. 5. Because of that, they’ll without end be in comparison with each other. Over the primary two years of their careers, Burrow’s productiveness gave him the sting, primarily based mostly on the Bengals’ Super Bowl run final season. Although Burrow was sacked greater than another QB final 12 months, Cincy found out a successful system and practically took house a Lombardi trophy.
So far this season, it’s been a distinct story as Tagovailoa has been on fireplace for the undefeated Dolphins. The hole between the 2 is getting smaller. Aside from Week 1, Burrow hasn’t been unhealthy and even threw three touchdowns within the Bengals’ first win of the 12 months final week over the lowly Jets. Burrow is again on observe, though he’s always taking too many sacks; he’s already tied for the lead once more this 12 months.
For Tua, it’s like he stepped into an entire new world this season. He has a brand new head coach specializing in offense and a number of weapons that includes an All-Pro wideout in Hill. Tua completed his first two seasons with a QBR underneath 50, which is taken into account common. Through his first three video games in ‘22, Tua has posted a QBR of 82.8. While it is a small sample size, that’s clearly phenomenal. You’d like to see Tagovailoa hold this going all 12 months however up to now, so good. The head-to-head matchup between these younger QBs will probably be talked about endlessly in the course of the telecast of this sport. Don’t neglect, you’ll want Amazon Prime to catch it.
Something else to look at for on this sport would be the Bengals’ protection and the way they defend the deep ball. When Hill was traded to Miami within the offseason, there was concern about Tua having a powerful sufficient arm to get the ball to him downfield. Welp, the Dolphins, have erased any fear that any of us had about that. They’re tied for the league lead in 40+ yard receptions with 5. This Dolphins offense additionally has 11 receptions of 20 yards or extra which is simply two off the league lead. The group/Tua is second in passing yards with 925 and tied for third in TD receptions.
With Cincy, it will likely be the identical issues it’s all the time been. Protect Joe Burrow. Getting the bottom sport going can be essential, however the extra time Burrow can have with out defenders round him, the higher. That sounds apparent, however Cincy hasn’t executed an awesome job of executing this up to now. Last week Burrow was sacked solely two occasions, they usually received the sport. In the primary two video games in opposition to the Steelers and Cowboys, Burrow was sacked 13 occasions — seven occasions in opposition to Pittsburgh and 6 in opposition to Dallas.
This sport ought to be entertaining, with two of the very best QB-WR duos within the NFL dealing with off in Tua-Hill vs. Burrow-Ja’Marr Chase. There ought to be loads of scoring for individuals who get pleasure from that kind of pleasure. Miami ought to win an in depth sport and get to Burrow sufficient occasions to negate him and Chase.
Discussion about this post