01-13-2022, 05:54 PM
(01-13-2022, 11:31 AM)wcu Wrote: Every single article or message board I've read regarding our Raiders game talks about how the Bengals O-line is a liability (they are) and how Ngokoue and Crosby (specifically) are going to feast and that's how the Raiders are going to be able to beat they Bengals (certainly a possibility). Yes, I realize that Crosby lead the league in pressure rate from the DE position (sounds like Carl Lawson), but let's not act like he is the end all and be all of NFL pass rushers.
This year we have faced:
Danielle Hunter
Robert Quinn
Khalil Mack
Josh Allen
Preston Smith
Rashan Gary
Myles Garrett (twice)
Jadaveon Clowney (twice)
Maxx Crosby
Yanick Ngokoue
TJ Watt
Cam Heyward (twice)
Joey Bosa
Nick Bosa
There's no doubt that some of these guys got home against the Bengals, but were any of them so debilitatingly effective that they just wrecked our whole game and prevented us from competing? It's an honest question, I really don't remember that happening though. Crosby is good, but he's not on the same level as the Bosa Brothers (0 and 2 sacks against us) or TJ Watt (0 sacks against us) or Myles Garrett (2.5 in 2 games) or Robert Quinn (2 sacks against us).
I'm just already getting sick about hearing about that pass rush. We've faced and survived (and even thrived against) much worse. I may eat a huge plate of multiple crows, but I have faith that we'll have a good enough game plan to keep Ngokoue and Crosby (who by the way combined for 1 sack last time) from taking over. I almost get the sense that they're the one shred of hope the Raiders have and so the media has to talk about it to make it interesting.
I'm not saying the Raiders don't have a chance. Of course they do. They're obviously a good team, but I just don't buy that stopping Maxx Crosby is some insurmountable task compared with other guys we've faced.
I think there are two different questions at play. First, can the Bengals stop good pass rushers. And I think you've answered the question above with an affirmative yes. But the second question is what happens when they don't stop them and teams get to Burrow. Well the answer is the team usually loses. 27 of the 51 times Burrow was sacked came in the six losses he played in. That's an average of 4.5 sacks per loss. The team's record was 0-1 when he was sacked 6 times; 1-5 when Burrow was sacked at least 5 times; 2-5 when he was sacked at least 4 times; and 5-6 when he was sacked at least three times. They were 5-0 when he was sacked less than 3 times. So why is that the case? Yeah, it sucks to see our QB get hit and can throw him off of his game, but look at Kansas City and Minnesota - sacked 4 and 5 times but had phenomenal games. Sure it happens but I think the increase in sacks leads to an increase in interceptions more often than not. 10 of Burrow's 14 interceptions came in the six losses he played in (all of which involved at least 3 sacks). He had 27 touchdowns to 4 interceptions in the remaining games. Based on what I've seen this season the only way you can stop Burrow is to disrupt his pocket and cause turnovers. Otherwise he's literally unstoppable. So the absolute key to the game is to limit the Raiders to less than 3 sacks and that starts by neutralizing Ngokoue and Crosby.
