11-01-2017, 12:02 AM
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a far better team in 2017 than the Cincinnati Bengals. This is obvious but all is not lost because there is one proven way to beat a better team:
Knock the stuffing out of their quarterback.
When the Bengals beat the Broncos in 2014 and beat the Patriots in 2013 it was because Mike Zimmer put extreme pressure on Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Similarly, Blake Bortles will have to be hurried, hit, or sacked on every drop back.
Cincinnati does not have the Zimmer pass rush anymore. Against Jacksonville it will take some blitz packages to put Bortles on the turf and this means releasing Vontaze Burfict from his usual role as a run stopper when the defensive line can’t stop the rush at first contact. He’ll have to get into the backfield and disrupt plays.
The Bengals’ defense will have to win this game. The other side of the ball can’t score enough by themselves to even beat the Colts.
Knock the stuffing out of their quarterback.
When the Bengals beat the Broncos in 2014 and beat the Patriots in 2013 it was because Mike Zimmer put extreme pressure on Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Similarly, Blake Bortles will have to be hurried, hit, or sacked on every drop back.
Cincinnati does not have the Zimmer pass rush anymore. Against Jacksonville it will take some blitz packages to put Bortles on the turf and this means releasing Vontaze Burfict from his usual role as a run stopper when the defensive line can’t stop the rush at first contact. He’ll have to get into the backfield and disrupt plays.
The Bengals’ defense will have to win this game. The other side of the ball can’t score enough by themselves to even beat the Colts.
![[Image: 4CV0TeR.png]](https://i.imgur.com/4CV0TeR.png)
