How the Bengals can avoid an upset against the Lions

The Detroit Lions don’t seem like the biggest threat to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 6 given that winless record.

But it’s never so simple.

The Bengals enter the road game coming off a loss and aren’t as healthy as they have been in prior weeks. Detroit isn’t playing like a winless team, and that 0-5 mark could create a dangerous sense of desperation.

Here are a few ways the Bengals can avoid a letdown in Detroit.

Send extra at Goff

Oct 10, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) sets the play against the Minnesota Vikings during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The Bengals aren’t always blitzing, but when they do, Lou Anarumo dials up some really creative looks with guys like Mike Hilton. And Jared Goff just isn’t very good at feeling pressure most of the time. He’s been sacked 14 times already and according to PFF’s numbers, 18.2 percent of his pressures turn into sacks. Overall, the Detroit line has let up 88 pressures. Bringing extra could mean less time to exploit someone like Eli Apple.

Keep the pocket clean

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) takes the field for a possession in overtime during an NFL Week 1 football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Bengals won, 27-24.
Minnesota Vikings At Cincinnati Bengals Sept 12

Duh, right? But this is an easy way to chalk up a win and keep Burrow healthy after the injury scares last week Detroit is dreadful at generating pressure and Burrow is elite from clean pockets. During the win over Jacksonville, another team that struggles to get pressure, Burrow was 22-of-26 with 292 yards from clean pockets.

Ride Joe Mixon

Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Mixon (28) celebrates a touchdown run during the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

If Mixon’s really as healthy as the coaches say, he needs to be the focus of the gameplan. Detroit can’t stop the run either and just a week ago let Minnesota’s Alexander Mattison run for 113 yards on a 4.5 per-carry average. The week before that? Bears backs scored three touchdowns while averaging nearly five yards per carry. Fourteen Detroit defenders have missed at least two tackles already, so Mixon getting shifty after the handoff or catch could be a gamebreaker.

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