Rams defense prepared for Joe Burrow, Bengals
THOUSAND OAKS — The Cincinnati Bengals’ offense has given teams reasons to be lured in a sense of security.
A three-point output in Week 1 against Cleveland. Just two offensive touchdowns in Week 2 against Baltimore. And now quarterback Joe Burrow is questionable for Monday night’s game against Rams with the same calf injury that’s plagued him since training camp.
But despite the injury designation, the Rams are preparing for Monday’s game against the Bengals like they will be facing the owner of the NFL’s richest-ever contract.
“Oh yeah, you have to. You have to be ready,” head coach Sean McVay said. “I think you’d be silly not to prepare for one of the best. We’ll find out probably later on in the week or maybe 90 minutes before kickoff whether he’s going or not.”
It will be the first time the Rams (1-1) and Bengals (0-2) meet in a meaningful game since Super Bowl LVI two winters ago. In that game, Burrow completed two-thirds of his 33 pass attempts for 263 yards and a touchdown, and had the Bengals with a lead entering the fourth quarter.
But after a Matthew Stafford touchdown throw to Cooper Kupp with 1:25 to play, the Rams defense got the Bengals off the field with one of the trademark moments of Aaron Donald’s career.
“Fourth and 1, find a way to win the game,” Donald said of his near sack of Burrow that led to an incomplete pass and his iconic “ring me” celebration. “Find a way to make a play. Don’t let him get this first down and we do that, we win the game and we did that.”
A lot has changed for both teams in the intermittent two off-seasons. Donald and safety Jordan Fuller are the two remaining members of the Rams’ starting defense from that year, while the Bengals have four new starting offensive lineman while the one remaining starter, Jonah Williams, has flipped from left to right tackle.
But many of the philosophies have remained the same for both teams. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor is a former McVay assistant, but adapted the offense to fit Burrow’s skillsets, with more shotgun and deep shots to talented receivers like Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
“Obviously, what was that two, three years ago? So obviously you’re going to see similar things but different things too,” Donald said. “So we just have to just play our game and try to find ways to be consistent and find a way to win.”
They will have to do so in a unique road environment at Paycor Stadium. Sure, all NFL road games are hostile, but this will be the first meaningful trip to Cincinnati since the fateful meeting in Inglewood, when the Rams took away a Super Bowl in crushing fashion.
“I expect to get their best shots. We took their dreams,” linebacker Ernest Jones said. “They’re 0-2, so they’re looking to get their first win, we’re looking to get back on track. So I’m looking forward to a good game.”
Perhaps it will come against a Bengals team minus its leader. Cincinnati signed quarterbacks Reid Sinnett and A.J. McCarron to its practice squad in case it needs an emergency QB. Jake Browning is the backup in case Burrow is scratched ahead of kickoff, or reaggravates the injury mid-game.
But the Rams don’t expect Burrow to miss this opportunity.
“I expect him to play. I know he is a tough guy,” Donald said. “So my mindset is he’s going to be out there healthy and playing how he needs to play. So our job is to go through this game plan, obviously practice it, get used to it, feel comfortable with it, understand what we need to do, and then execute it come Monday.”