Cincinnati Bengals Vs Atlanta Falcons Preview

The Cincinnati Bengals started out the preseason with a solid performance against the New York Jets, which led to a 17-6 victory. Now, six days later, the Bengals face a bigger test when they go on the road to take on the Atlanta Falcons.




Injuries on Offense:

 The team came away injured from their first game and will be without key players including running backs Benjarvus Green-Ellis and Bernard Scott.  This opens up the door for players like Cedric Peerman and Aaron Brown to get some carries and show the coaching staff what they can do. The offense will also be without Guard Travelle Wharton who is out for the rest of the season. Second-year player Clint Boling will get a chance to start. After a summer of strength and balance training Boling has an opportunity to prove he belongs in the NFL. Coaches say he has made strides and with the departure of Bobbie Williams, Boling seems to be the best option at Left Guard following the Wharton injury.

Can Cincinnati Bengals Wide Receiver Jordan Shipley
 show the Bengals staff he is the same player
he was prior to tearing his ACL?

Injuries on Defense:

The Bengals are entering Game 2 of the preseason without four of their cornerbacks. Dre Kirkpatrick, Jason Allen, Brandon Ghee and Shaun Prater are all out for tonight's game against Atlanta. Adam Jones has also been battling a calf injury and the team has not said whether he will play or not. The team is also without starting middle linebacker Rey Maualuga who was injured last week against the Jets. Defensive End Carlos Dunlap sprained his right knee during the Jets game and is out for the preseason and doubtful for the regular season opener against Baltimore. Robert Geathers is also out for the preseason which will give newcomer Jamaal Anderson a chance to make an impact. 

Questions I want answers to:

1. How will the wounded secondary handle the wide receiver tandem of Roddy White and Julio Jones?

2. Can Clint Boling show that he has improved and is a starting guard in the NFL?

3. Will MLB Vontaze Burfict continue to play well and cement a spot on the team?

4. Can Jordan Shipley show the explosiveness he had before he tore his ACL last season?

5. What will Brandon Tate and Armon Binns do to prove they deserve the 2nd wide receiver slot?

At the end of the day this is simply preseason game number two. The Bengals have injuries all over the field and the goal is to be as healthy as possible for opening night against the Baltimore Ravens. However, tonight's game will go a long way in answering some of the questions fans have about the Bengals. The game starts at 8:00pm on Fox. 




Follow me on Twitter: @JamesRapien

Why not Owens?

When New York Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie said he was the "second-best wide receiver" on the Jets team, most questioned if he was right or not. However, the fact that people are asking that question shows how weak the Jets are at wide receiver. Their current depth chart has four receivers that have never caught an NFL pass. The "number-one" receiver Santonio Holmes has only had one 1,000 yard season in his career and would be a second option on most teams.

Terrell Owens keeps himself in tremendous
shape and could bring experience to a
team like the New York Jets.

With that being said, the Jets are weak at the wide-receiver position. One free-agent wide receiver that could fit in with the Jets is Terrell Owens. Before you yell at your computer screen, please give this idea more thought. The Jets wide receivers have 449 receptions for 6,573 receiving yards as a position group. Owens has over 1,000 catches in his career for 15,934 yards. Bringing in a player of his stature would not only sell tickets, but it would lead to more wins. There is no doubt in my mind that Owens could be a top 25 wide receiver in the NFL this season. He is desperate to join a team and would come at a very cheap price.

The controversial wide receiver would be able to show young players like Stephen Hill and Jeremy Kerley the work that goes into being one of the best. Owens may not mentor the players, but working hard is something Owens has done his entire career and that would continue. Holmes would be able to play with a consistent threat on the opposite side of him.

Football wise it makes complete sense. However, it remains to be seen if any NFL team will take a flier on the veteran wide receiver. One thing is certain, the New York Jets will have plenty of controversy whether they add Terrell Owens or not.

Could Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets
benefit by adding Terrell Owens?
YES!