{"id":44347,"date":"2022-08-13T17:22:42","date_gmt":"2022-08-13T17:22:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/4-things-we-learned-from-the-bengals-mostly-ugly-preseason-loss-to-the-cardinals\/"},"modified":"2022-08-13T17:22:42","modified_gmt":"2022-08-13T17:22:42","slug":"4-things-we-learned-from-the-bengals-mostly-ugly-preseason-loss-to-the-cardinals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/4-things-we-learned-from-the-bengals-mostly-ugly-preseason-loss-to-the-cardinals\/","title":{"rendered":"4 things we learned from the Bengals’ (mostly) ugly preseason loss to the Cardinals"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Bengals fans got to see a lot of new faces out on the field last night. But they’re probably hoping they won’t have to see too much more of them in the near future. <\/p>\n

An offense that is to be headed by Joe Burrow and feature Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd, Joe Mixon, and a revamped o-line should look a lot different from the guys that represented the team at newly-christened Paycor Stadium for the first time. Of course, there were some positives as well.<\/p>\n

Here are four things we learned from watching the Bengals lose to the Cardinals, 36-23, in the AFC champions’ preseason debut: <\/p>\n

The offense will not be good if (God forbid) Burrow misses significant time<\/h3>\n

Neither Brandon Allen nor Jake Browning is taking the Bengals places. The crowd was particularly unimpressed when Browning’s pass attempt to Jack Sorenson on 3rd and four with 9:58 left in the second quarter hit dirt:<\/p>\n

The offensive line doesn’t have great depth<\/h3>\n

Yes, it was backups against backups or even the backups of backups against backups of backups and sometimes even… you get the point. But you would still like to see some <\/em>holes open up, right? Instead, guys like Hakeem Adeneji and Isaiah Prince (who the team relied on last year) contributed to a run game that had just 62 yards on 28 carries, good for 2.2 yards per carry. <\/p>\n

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Adeniji and Prince have had practice squad type of nights.<\/p>\n

These two started in the super bowl.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) August 13, 2022<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

And here’s all you need to know about the pass protection: <\/p>\n

We’re a little sick of exposing Burrow to things like that. And so, with Jackson Carman struggling despite inferior competition, fans are calling for reinforcements. <\/p>\n

The team may have something in rookie receiver Kendric Pryor<\/h3>\n

The undrafted free agent out of Wisconsin had four receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown. He was actually developing some nice chemistry with fourth-stringer Drew Plitt, who had the best night of all the quarterbacks. Check out Pryor’s toe drag on the first catch in this clip: <\/p>\n

… and his amazing near-180-degree, one-handed grab late in the fourth quarter: <\/p>\n

… and the time he beat the defense deep for a touchdown with 1:14 left in the game: <\/p>\n

To be fair, Trent Taylor (four receptions on four targets for 74 yards) had a nice night as well. Point is, the Bengals should have good depth at receiver. <\/p>\n

Evan McPherson is a rising superstar<\/h3>\n

No, seriously. I can’t imagine a kicker being more popular in a city. Just look at the crowd’s reaction to this 58-yard field goal in the first quarter:<\/p>\n

McPherson would captivate fans once again with a 56-yarder in the second quarter. <\/p>\n

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McPherson from 56 in case you thought he might have a sophomore slump<\/p>\n

\u2014 Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) August 13, 2022<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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McPherson just showing off at this point <\/p>\n

\u2014 Kayla SwelBurrow (@kswelbs) August 13, 2022<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

For an update on Burrow and the story behind Paycor getting stadium naming rights, check out our recent interview with Bengals Director of Communications Emily Parker: <\/p>\n

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