For the fourth time in five years, the Cincinnati Bengals are 0-2 entering Week Three, setting up a must-win clash against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night.
Last year, Cincy climbed out of their 0-2 hole and went on to reach the AFC Championship game. Repeating that trick could prove tricky amid the ongoing concerns over quarterback Joe Burrow’s health.
Burrow is a doubt with a calf injury for the Super Bowl 56 rematch against the Rams, who are 1-1 and playing better than many would have expected entering the season.
LA are chasing a third straight win over Cincinnati and could be awkward customers for a desperate Bengals team.
Rams vs Bengals Betting Tips
Under 43.5 points @ 20/23
Team news
It’s all eyes on the injury report to see if Burrow is going to play. The Bengals quarterback is considered day-to-day with a calf issue, which he reaggravated in the loss to the Baltimore Ravens last time out.
Burrow had the same issue during pre-season and if he can’t play Jake Browning is set to step in at quarterback, having previously played just four snaps in his NFL career.
For the Rams, they listed a number of players as limited in practice this week, including exciting rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua, although head coach Sean McVay expects everyone to play.
Under 43.5 points @ 20/23
Betting on this rests heavily on Burrow’s fitness and with little indication coming out of the Bengals camp as to whether he plays, the safest option right now is to take the under.
Even when Burrow has been on the field this season, Cincinnati’s offence has not looked right with star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase struggling to make an impact.
Tee Higgins was shut out in the Week One loss to the Cleveland Browns before a bounce back showing against the Ravens, while running-back Joe Mixon has found it tough to make an impact.
Burrow has looked off his game, throwing a red zone interception in the loss to Baltimore, while the Bengals managed just 67 passing yards when losing to the Browns.
The Rams’ bend-but-don’t-break defence has held up well so far, limiting the Seahawks to just 12 yards of offence when winning 30-13 in Seattle in Week One.
LA may have lost their Week Two assignment to the San Francisco 49ers 30-23, but through the air, they held a high-powered Niners offence to 206 passing yards.
LA quarterback Matthew Stafford looked a little shaky in that loss to the Niners, throwing two interceptions, while he also threw two picks in the Super Bowl win over the Bengals.
That Super Bowl was a nail-biter with the Rams edging out the Bengals 23-20, and Monday’s clash could prove just as tense as Cincinnati battle to keep their season alive.
The last meeting between these two went under on the points total and given the doubts about Burrow’s health and the under landing in eight of the Rams last ten away games, there are reasons to believe this one could be a defensive struggle.
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