Training camp for the 2019-2020 season has begun! Last Word on Pro Football is analyzing the schedules of all 32 teams. Each team’s 16-game slate will be split into its most difficult (1-8) and easiest games (9-16). This article will focus on the Cincinnati Bengals easiest games for their 2019 schedule.
The most difficult games on the 2019 Bengals schedule.
Cincinnati Bengals Easiest Games of 2019
9. Week Five: vs Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals will start rookie quarterback and number one overall draft pick, Kyler Murray. In his 2018 season at Oklahoma, Murray threw for 4,361 yards, had a 69.0 completion percentage, and racked up 42 touchdowns. The rook will likely give Cincy’s defense a run for their money. However, Murray may not have enough pieces around him.
10. Week Six: at Baltimore Ravens
Ravens’ quarterback, Lamar Jackson, was extremely hesitant to pass last season and highly favored the run game. Michael David Smith of NBC Sports writes, “The Ravens’ nearly 2-to-1 run-pass ratio with Jackson as the quarterback is unheard of in today’s NFL, where NFL teams are averaging 35 passes and 26 runs per game in 2018.” Now that Baltimore has star running back, Mark Ingram, Jackson will be even more inclined to hand the ball off. Last year, Ingram only played 12 games. However, the last two seasons in which he played all 16 games, he had over 1,000 total yards. This type of play will be incredibly simple to defend, giving the Bengals a good chance to win.
11. Week 13: vs New York Jets
The last time the Jets visited Cincinnati, they lost by a lopsided score of 49-9. Sure, New York leads the all-time series versus the Bengals 17-9. Also, the Jets have added Le’Veon Bell to their offense. Cincy knows how to gameplan for Bell, though. They’ve played him twice each year since he joined the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2013.
12. Week Two: vs San Francisco 49ers
Jimmy Garoppolo is working overtime in training camp as he recovers from his knee injury. Will he be 100 percent by Week Two? Possibly. However, since the Bengals are facing the 49ers so early, they likely have a better shot of winning.
13. Week 17: vs Cleveland Browns
It’s possible that by Week 17, the Bengals will have the Browns new offensive scheme figured out. At least, this game will be in the Jungle. Fans will certainly expect a better performance than last year’s home game against the Browns. Also, A.J. Green will hopefully be at 100 percent at this point, and Cincy is always better with him on the field.
14. Week 10: vs Ravens
Again, unless the Ravens significantly change their offensive scheme, winning will be simple for Cincy. Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap combined for 92 tackles in 2018. If Baltimore is constantly running the ball, Cincinnati will easily top them. It also doesn’t hurt that this game is at home.
15. Week 11: at Oakland Raiders
ESPN ranked Raiders’ quarterback Derek Carr 27th in the NFL with a QBR of 46.5 for the 2018 season. In his five year career, his highest QBR was 54.6. Adding Antonio Brown is going to give Carr a new target, but it won’t magically fix things. Also, the Raiders still haven’t completely replaced Khalil Mack, who they traded to the Chicago Bears in 2018. This should be an easy win for the Bengals.
16. Week 3: at Buffalo Bills
The Josh Allen experiment was a disaster last year, and Buffalo is coming back for more. In their preseason opener, the Bills passed on 15 of 17 plays during Allen’s first two series on the field. The second-year quarterback was 6-of-11 for 66 yards. They are determined to make this Josh Allen thing work in Buffalo. If last season was any sign of how the 2019 campaign will go, the Bengals are likely to take this game.
