Sunday’s battle of division leaders in Cincinnati features one of the old gunslingers against one of the NFL’s newest gunslingers when Aaron Rodgers leads the Green Bay Packers to town against Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow. Let’s get prepared with this Packers at Bengals betting preview.
After an embarrassing blowout loss in the opener, the Packers have reeled off three straight wins, including a 27-17 win over Cincinnati’s rival, Pittsburgh Steelers, last Sunday.
The Bengals, whose only blemish on the season came against the Packers’ rival, Chicago, enter with an identical 3-1 mark after escaping Thursday night against Jacksonville, 24-21.
Game Odds
Green Bay is a 3-point favorite in this one with -115 odds to cover and -160 on the Moneyline, according to main sportsbooks. Cincinnati is -105 to cover and +140 to win outright. Sportsbooks also has the Over/Under set at 50.5 points with the customary -110 odds on either side of the number.
Getting Job Done Differently
Green Bay’s offense is usually one of the best in the league, year-in-year-out. That is not quite the case this season. Green Bay is 24th in total offense through the first three games with 318 per game, while Rodgers has put up pedestrian numbers with a 55.8 QBR which is 15th in the league. On the other hand, the defense is sixth overall and has allowed just 311 yards per game from scrimmage.
League Honors
For the first time in his young career, Bengals’ quarterback Joe Burrow was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week last week. The second-year QB out of LSU completed 25-32 passes for 348 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Thursday’s win over Jacksonville. Burrow is the first Bengals’ QB to win the award since Andy Dalton in Week 14 of 2013.
For the season, Burrow has thrown for 988 yards with nine touchdowns and four interceptions.
Just Like Old Times
During all the off-season drama, Rodgers made it known he wanted Randall Cobb back with the team. After three relatively quiet weeks, Cobb finally made some noise on Sunday.
Rodgers hooked up with one of his all-time favorite targets for a pair of scores in part of Cobb’s 5-reception, 69-yard day. For the season, Cobb has nine receptions for 127 yards and two touchdowns.
Help Wanted?
With 353 yards on the ground, Cincinnati’s Joe Mixon is third in the league in rushing yards. But he’s been the only source of offense from the backfield. The Bengals rank 21st in the league in rushing with 98 yards per game as the second-leading rusher on the team, Samaje Perine, has just 28 yards for the season. Will Mixon be able to carry the load himself for the entire season?
Coming Out Party
With Burrow turning to former LSU teammate Ja’Marr Chase (17 rec, 297 yds, 4 TDs) and Tyler Boyd (23 rec, 259 yds, 1 TD) frequently, the young QB needed another option Thursday.
With Tee Higgins (10-118-2) sidelined, seldom-used tight end C.J. Uzomah stepped up against the Jaguars. Burrow found his tight end five times for 95 yards and two touchdowns in the win. For the season, Uzomah has nine catches for 134 yards and two scores.
Packer Leaders
Devante Adams leads in receiving with 373 yards and a touchdown, while Aaron Jones (206) and A.J. Dillon (136) have combined for 342 yards rushing.
Trends
Green Bay is 11-4 against the spread against teams from the AFC and is 6-2 ATS in its last eight games overall.
As an underdog, Cincinnati is 12-6 straight up against the NFC North and is 4-2 in its last six games.