The Bengals may be sitting at 2-2, but the betting market still likes them a lot against Miami.
DraftKings Sportsbook has Cincinnati as a -7 favorite over the Dolphins this week, with the total set at 41.5. That number comes after the Bengals dropped to 2-2 straight up and against the spread following back-to-back losses, while Miami has stumbled to 0-4 straight up and 1-3 against the spread.
The Bengals are expected to head into the game dealing with some shorthanded spots again, especially in the secondary and at wide receiver. Even so, Zac Taylor said he believes the group on hand can handle it.
"We just have to make it work, and for the most part, we did. I never felt like, 'Man, we can't do this because of who we have.'
I don't feel that. That's why they're on our roster," Zac Taylor said about testing the wide receiver depth.
"If you make our roster on offense, you've got something to you. Same with the defense we have right now.
"So anybody that walks on the field that's on our 53-player roster on game day, I got absolute faith that they can make some plays and win games. That's every single man we've got on this team.
That's why they're here. This is the best team we've had in a while.
And so I've got faith. Anybody we walk out on that field, we trust to be able to make a play."
Cincinnati’s defense has been solid for most of the season, showing up well in three of the four games. The passing game also got rolling yesterday, clearing 400 yards. The odd wrinkle in the offense came on the ground, where the rushing attack was the part that slowed the Bengals down most often against Jacksonville.
The line has shifted a good bit since before the season. Cincinnati opened as a 5.5-point favorite over Miami in Week 1, and the total then sat at 48.5. Both numbers have moved sharply as the season has unfolded.
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In Other News...
Rex Ryan Just Sparked A New Bengals Debate Around Joe Burrow
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Bengals Suddenly Have A Receiver Debate Fans Cant Ignore
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Former Bengals Star Sounds Alarm On A Problem Burrow Can't Escape
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Houshmandzadeh also flagged trouble covering tight ends and noted Burrows two interceptions as costly plays in a season where every mistake seems to carry extra weight. With Miami and Baltimore next on the schedule, the Bengals are staring at a stretch that will test whether those issues can be cleaned up quickly or whether they keep following Burrow from week to week. [Read more 🡒]