Winless Bengals face familiar face in matchup vs. Panthers

It could be all about Andy Dalton again this weekend when the Carolina Panthers meet the Cincinnati Bengals.

Dalton made a smooth transition to a starting role at quarterback for the Panthers, guiding the team to its first win of the season last weekend.

Next, he’ll be tasked with beating his former team Sunday afternoon in Charlotte, N.C.

“It’s always fun to get the opportunity to go against them,” said Dalton, who spent his first nine seasons with Cincinnati after being selected in the second round of the 2011 draft.

Given how the first two weeks went on top of last season for the Panthers (1-2), it’s hard to imagine that they’re entering a game with a better record than the opponent.

But they are, as the Bengals (0-3) are coming off Monday night’s 38-33 loss to the visiting Washington Commanders. Cincinnati’s three defeats have come by a total of 12 points.

Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor said this isn’t the position the team expected to be in, but he isn’t panicking.

“A long season, things can always evolve,” Taylor said. “What we do is make sure we don’t overreact. Let’s really fine-tune how we can actually improve, and not just decide we have to make wholesale changes.”

Dalton replaced 2023 overall No. 1 draft pick Bryce Young as Carolina’s starter last week. He threw three touchdown passes without an interception in a 36-22 victory at Las Vegas.

“This is just one step, and we got to go back to work and just feel the urgency that the whole group has,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said.

Taylor coached Dalton in his first year as Cincinnati’s coach in 2019, and said he appreciated Dalton’s contributions for the Bengals.

“Always been grateful for Andy,” he said. “He led us through a very difficult time. I’m not surprised that he keeps getting opportunities and makes the most of them because of how he prepares and the talent that he has.”

The Bengals have concerns far beyond Dalton.

“A new opportunity for this team to prove themselves,” Taylor said. “This is a very humbling week. There are a lot of ebbs and flows and right now we’re on the downside of that.”

It’s not often Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, who has been one of the NFL’s most dynamic quarterbacks in recent years, enters a game overshadowed. Burrow has thrown five touchdowns without an interception but has been sacked eight times this season.

The Bengals need to shore up areas on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

“Offensively, you can’t waste any plays,” Taylor said. “… Defensively, I think things that can be improved is making plays in space when the opportunities are there.”

With a new mindset, Carolina might be able to open a larger playbook based on their first victory.

“We saw more opportunities that allowed guys to play aggressively and just be free and have fun,” Canales said. “We want to continue attacking.”

The Panthers will look for more weapons to complement Dalton after receiver Adam Thielen was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday. He suffered a hamstring injury on a touchdown reception Sunday against the Raiders.

Left guard Damien Lewis (elbow) did not practice Wednesday, nor did defensive end A’Shawn Robinson (knee), defensive tackle Shy Tuttle (foot) and cornerback Lonnie Johnson (hip). Safety Nick Scott (quad) was limited.

The Bengals will be without offensive lineman Trent Brown, who left Monday’s game with a season-ending knee injury. Defensive linemen B.J. Hill (hamstring) and Sheldon Rankins (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday, along with defensive end Trey Hendrickson (illness). Star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (shoulder), who reeled in two touchdown catches on Monday, was limited.

“We have got to make sure they’re in the right place before we get them back,” Taylor said of Hill and Rankins.

If there’s grumbling in Cincinnati, this might be an ideal time for the team’s second road trip of the season.

“The beauty of the pros is we know how to block that out and focus on what’s important,” Taylor said.

The all-time series is tied 3-3-1, with the Bengals winning the last matchup 42-21 at home in 2022.

–Field Level Media

Steelers throw No. 1 defense at Colts, young playmakers

When the Pittsburgh Steelers and host Indianapolis Colts meet Sunday, it’ll be a matchup of a young offense relying on an explosive rusher against the league’s top-ranked defense.

Critical to the Colts’ success is the 1-2 punch of sophomore quarterback Anthony Richardson and running back Jonathan Taylor. Indianapolis’ 21-16 win over the Chicago Bears last week was led by Taylor, who ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns. Richardson threw for 167 yards with two interceptions.

“Our offensive line sets the tone for those guys up front,” said Colts head coach Shane Steichen. “JT’s running really good and he’s seeing it well, he’s being patient, he’s hitting the holes.”

The 2021 NFL rushing champion is seventh in the league this season with 261 yards. Behind him on the Colts is Richardson with 117 rushing yards.

“We’ve got a big challenge in Jonathan Taylor, and I think that challenge is intensified because of Richardson’s mobility and their willingness to use schematics regarding Richardson’s mobility,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “It is a big run game emphasis for us.”

If any team is up for the challenge of the Taylor and Richardson duo, it’s Pittsburgh (3-0), which is off to its best start since 2020 and rated the No. 1 defensive team in the NFL (229.0 yards per game).

The Steelers allow 71.3 rushing yards per game and travel to Indianapolis with three straight games holding opponents to 10 points or less. That’s without edge rusher Alex Highsmith, who has been limited by a groin injury. In his absence, Nick Herbig had a career day in the 20-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers last week with two sacks, three tackles and a forced fumble.

Spearheading the defense is six-time Pro Bowler T.J. Watt, leading the Steelers with three sacks plus 10 tackles.

“We got to know where he’s going to line up and how he’s likely to align within their scheme, what his role is likely to be defensively each play and how we can go best attack the defense,” said Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter. “How can we best attack the defense while also having an awareness to this great player out there and trying to limit his impact.”

Indianapolis’ defense was dealt a blow Sunday, losing two starters in the fourth quarter. Both cornerback Kenny Moore II (hip) and defensive end Kwity Paye (quadriceps) didn’t practice Wednesday, but Steichen hasn’t ruled them out for Sunday. Cornerback Chris Lammons (knee/ankle) and offensive tackle Braden Smith (knee) also missed practice.

Offensively for Pittsburgh, quarterback Justin Fields will start again in place of Russell Wilson. A calf injury continues to plague the former Super Bowl champion, leaving Tomlin uninterested in talking about any kind of quarterback competition until Wilson is able to return. He was limited in practice Wednesday.

Tomlin has had Fields under center for every game, with the former Chicago Bears quarterback averaging 172.7 passing yards and 30 rushing yards per game. Each is below career highs after three years in Chicago, but what isn’t hampering Fields in Pittsburgh are turnovers. Fields has only one interception, but none in the past two victories.

“I like his steady demeanor,” said Tomlin. “I like that in a leader. He doesn’t ride the emotional roller coaster when things are going bad. Guys can rally around that, he’s steady, he’s a competitor.”

Najee Harris received rest on Wednesday due to an arm injury sustained against the Chargers, but Tomlin isn’t concerned about his return, adding he’s expected to be available for Sunday’s trip to the Colts. Running back Jaylen Warren is expected to miss the game with a knee injury. He did not practice Wednesday.

–Field Level Media