LA Chargers 2020 opponent preview: Cincinnati Bengals
By Jason Reed
How the LA Chargers beat the Cincinnati Bengals: Don’t let Joe Mixon win this game
The LA Chargers have a really good defense and while Burrow could surprise the team, it is a benefit that they are playing him in Week 1 and it does suck for Burrow that he has to start his career against a defense like the Chargers.
The Bengals have a poor pass-blocking offensive line that is going to be exposed by the Chargers’ pass rush and the secondary should have no problem containing the weapons that Burrow has in the passing game.
Defensively, the Bengals have some promise and probably will hold the Chargers in a reasonable range, especially with this being the Chargers’ first real game under their new scheme. But that is going to be the Chargers’ identity in 2020: they are not going to be a high-powered offensive team.
The key here is to stop the running game, which has been the one thing that has plagued the Chargers consistently in the past. This is why the team traded up for Kenneth Murray in the 2020 NFL Draft and the Chargers have to limit Joe Mixon and keep him from having a big game.
If he does, that will just take the pressure off of Burrow and will essentially take away the Chargers’ biggest advantage with their offensive style — chewing away the clock and dominating time of possession.
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The LA Chargers are the more talented team, hence why the plan to beat the Bengals is not something that should be all that hard to do. Mixon can have a good game and the team will be fine, they have to keep him from having a great game.