›› NFL fines Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict again
Here are six things to look for when the Bengals and Colts collide:
Running Ross
First-round pick John Ross should get his most extensive work after recovering from a knee injury that has kept him out since Week 2.
Ross played five snaps in that Week 2 loss to Houston in addition to 19 snaps in his debut in Week 3 of the preseason against Washington and nine snaps in the preseason finale at Indianapolis, when he originally suffered the injury on a 25-yard run.
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The speed Ross brings could help get the vertical passing game going. The Bengals have six pass plays of at least 30 yards. That’s two fewer than they had through six games last year and eight fewer than in 2015 when the offense was at its peak.
Coach Marvin Lewis indicated there would be no restrictions on Ross, so look for him to be on the field a lot as offensive coordinator Bill Lazor tries to figure out different ways to use his speed.
Gunner down
The fact that wide receiver Cody Core is out due to a concussion won’t have that big of an impact on the passing game considering he has yet to catch a pass. But Core’s absence will be felt on special teams, where he has developed into an excellent gunner in punt coverage.
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The punt coverage has been suspect at times with the influx of youth on the roster. The 9.4 average yards allowed are better than the 9.7 recorded last year. But already the Bengals have allowed two returns of at least 33 yards when the longest surrendered last year was 28.
“We’ve got a lot of guys that can make plays vs. single (coverage),” special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons said. “I want to see guys who can make plays against vice when you’re doubled. That’s when it shows how big of a man you really are.”
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Turnover tale
It has to happen sooner or later, and the Bengals would love for it to be now so they don’t have to talk about it anymore.
The team hasn’t recovered an opponent fumble in 17 games, the longest streak in modern NFL history (1933). And it’s not as though interceptions are coming in bunches either with four.
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Only Atlanta (three) has fewer takeaways than the Bengals, who have yet to force more than one in a game this year and have only done it once in their last 10.
“I know they’re tired of hearing it from me,” defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said. “We just try to continue to impress on the players that it’s important to get the ball out.”
Indianapolis has 15 fumbles, which is tied for Chicago for most in the league, but the Colts have only lost four.
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Jostling Jacoby
The Bengals’ franchise record for sacks in a game is eight (Oct. 16, 1994, at Pittsburgh).
That is significant because the Colts are coming off a game in which they allowed 10 sacks against Jacksonville, raising their league-worst total to 29.
The Bengals were ranked second in the league in sacks per pass attempt before being blanked at Pittsburgh, snapping their NFL-best streak of 34 consecutive games with at least one sack.
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But with 18, Cincinnati still stands sixth in sacks per pass attempt and tied for sixth in sacks per game.
Indianapolis quarterback Jacoby Brissett is still getting acclimated after being acquired in a trade Sept. 2, and he has a tendency to hold the ball too long, which is a big reason his interception (three) and sack (25) numbers are so skewed.
If the Bengals can stop the run and force the Colts into a lot of third-and-long situations, they could be in position to start a new sack streak.
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Dalton’s day
Sunday will mark the 100th start of Andy Dalton's career, and it will come on his 30th birthday.
Dalton, who is 58-39-2 as a starter, is coming off back-to-back games in which he’s thrown two interceptions, which is significant because he hasn’t thrown multiple interceptions in three consecutive games since Weeks 10-12 of 2013.
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The Colts rank 31st against the pass, allowing 300.7 yards per game, and they will be without starting cornerback Rashaan Melvin due to a concussion. That, combined with the presence of Ross, could open things up for Dalton to hook up with A.J. Green more than last week, when Pittsburgh held the Pro Bowl wide receiver to three catches for 41 yards, including none over the final 46 minutes and 30 seconds.
Middle man
With middle linebacker Kevin Minter ruled out with an elbow injury, it will be interesting to see how the Bengals replace him in their base package.
Vinny Rey is the most likely linebacker to see added snaps. Rey, who started the first three games at WIL when Vontaze Burfict was suspended, knows the defense as well as anyone and has experience playing all three spots.
But Minter’s absence could create more playing time for undrafted rookie Hardy Nickerson, who repped at middle linebacker throughout training camp, or rookie fifth-round pick Jordan Evans, who is better suited to play WIL but has impressed the coaches since arriving.
Next game
Indianapolis Colts (2-5) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (2-4)
When: 1 p.m. Sunday
Where: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati
TV: Ch. 7, 12
Radio: 700-AM, 1530-AM, 102.7-FM, 104.7-FM
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