Burrow and the Bengals aim for a swift opening victory as they kick off their season against the Browns away from home.
The Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns are gearing up for an exciting season opener, with both teams aiming to make a strong start in the 2022 NFL season.
All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who led the league with 17 1/2 sacks and 92 pressures last season, has been practicing with the starting defense. This defensive force will undoubtedly be a key player for the Bengals as they look to contain the Browns' offensive threats.
On the other side of the ball, Cleveland's quarterback, Joe Flacco, has a 3-1 mark when facing the Bengals in an opener, all when he played for Baltimore. Flacco will be looking to continue his success against Cincinnati, while the Bengals will aim to break this trend.
Last year, the Bengals were a nine-point favorite at home against New England but lost 16-10. This loss serves as a reminder for the Bengals of the importance of a fast start in the 2022 season, a sentiment echoed by Joe Burrow and Zac Taylor.
Burrow, who led the league last year with 4,918 passing yards and 43 touchdown passes, will be looking to lead the Bengals to a victory in their opening game. Burrow led the Bengals to a season sweep against Cleveland in 2021, the first time since 2017.
The Bengals have not started 2-0 since 2018, and they will be aiming to change that this season. The Bengals' season opener is against the Cleveland Browns on the road, promising a thrilling match-up.
Cincinnati's defense, which struggled against passes of 10 or more yards downfield last season, allowing a 53.4% completion rate, will be under the watchful eye of Al Golden, the Bengals' newly appointed defensive coordinator. Golden, who spent three seasons as the defensive coordinator at Notre Dame, will be making his NFL debut as a defensive coordinator.
Golden will try to improve a defense that ranked in the bottom fourth of the league in most categories last season. Cleveland's All-Pro pass rusher, Myles Garrett, who has sacked Joe Burrow nine times, will be a formidable challenge. Garrett, who was a full participant in practice on Friday after missing Thursday due to a hip injury, will undoubtedly be a key player for the Browns.
The Bengals' offensive line, particularly left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., will need to be on top form to contain Garrett. According to NFL's Next Gen Stats, Cincinnati left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. has allowed Garrett to pressure the QB 13 times on 96 one-on-one pass rushes since 2018.
The Bengals can take comfort in the fact that they have key offensive players such as wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, who have long-term contracts with the team. The Bengals started the 2021 season 0-3 but ended it on a five-game winning streak. They will be hoping to carry this momentum into the 2022 season.
The Bengals have also retained the services of Hendrickson, who agreed to a reworked one-year contract. Hendrickson's experience and talent will undoubtedly be crucial in the Bengals' quest for a strong start in the 2022 season.
The Bengals and Browns' season opener promises to be a thrilling contest, with both teams eager to make a statement in the 2022 NFL season.
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