In this Sept. 13, 2018 file photo, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton throws during practice before an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Cincinnati.Frank Victores/The Associated Press
The Bengals have their offence revving in high gear.
Cincinnati has put up 34 points in back-to-back games to open the season, although quarterback Andy Dalton said they haven’t played a perfect game.
“We left some stuff out there,” Dalton said. “We can definitely improve and get better. [But] if we’re saying that and scoring 34 points, that’s a good thing.”
Dalton and the Bengals will look to fix those “little things” and start 3-0 for the fifth time in coach Marvin Lewis’s 16 seasons when they visit the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
The Panthers are coming off an uncharacteristically poor defensive performance in a 31-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, prompting coach Ron Rivera to say he wouldn’t tolerate laziness on defence.
The big change from last year’s 0-3 start for the Bengals has been up front. The offensive line was a mess last season, the main reason they finished last in the league in offence.
Co-ordinator Bill Lazor was given freedom to redesign the offence. The overhauled Bengals O-line line has new starters at four positions. So far the group has meshed well, allowing just two sacks – none in a 34-23 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 13.
“Any time you have time back there, you can step into your throws and you can put the ball where you want it,” Dalton said of the protection in the team’s 2-0 start .
Another adjustment has been lining up wide receiver A.J. Green in different spots on offence. Green caught three first-half touchdown passes from the slot against the Ravens. Cornerback James Bradberry will cover Green most of the time, but there will be occasions when Green could face nickel back Captain Munnerlyn in the slot, where he’ll have a significant height advantage.
“The reason they are moving him around is to try to create opportunities for him. You just got to have a package that can counter it,” Rivera said of Green.