One of the biggest mismatches of the week is the offensive line for the Bengals against the defensive line of the Raiders. Despite some offseason additions, the offensive line for Cincinnati is still among the worst units in football.
They’ll face Maxx Crosby and Yannick Ngakoue in Week 11, who just so happen to be the league’s best EDGE duo. Crosby leads the NFL in pressures while Ngakoue isn’t far behind.
But we’ve seen some games this year in which Joe Burrow gets rid of the ball so quickly so he won’t be pressured at all. So can the Raiders find a way to get to the former No. 1 overall pick?
In a recent article by ESPN, they wrote about the most important matchup in this Week 11 game. Here is what senior writer Paul Guiterrez had to say about the OL/DL battle in this contest:
“Will the Raiders’ pass rush get after Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow? Las Vegas was shut out on the sack stat sheet for the first time this season Sunday against the Chiefs (though Raiders fans have lots of video showing Maxx Crosby being held and mauled all night long), and Yannick Ngakoue had two sacks in three of his previous four games.
Burrow, meanwhile, has already been sacked 25 times, four times fewer than league leader Ryan Tannehill. Oh, and the last time Crosby faced the Bengals, as a rookie in 2019, he sacked Ryan Finley four times.”
If the Raiders can pressure Burrow in this game, it should be a game in which they win easily. The Bengals do not handle pressure well, especially when it comes from a standard four-man rush.
But if the Raiders fail to pressure Burrow, he could have a big day against Gus Bradley’s defense. He is one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the NFL and has so many weapons to target in the passing game.
The pass rush for the Raiders will win (or lose) this game for them on Sunday. Needless to say, they need a big game from Crosby and Ngakoue.
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