We have a potential Super Bowl preview in Week 8 of the NFL season as the Cincinnati Bengals take on the San Francisco 49ers. The Bengals are last in the AFC North with a 3-3 record and are on a two-game winning streak after a 17-13 home win against the Seattle Seahawks back on Oct. 15. The 49ers are leading the NFC West with a 5-2 record and are on a two-game losing streak after a 22-17 road loss against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night.
These teams have a lot of expectations coming into the season and cannot afford to lose too many more games in order to avoid a downfall. Let’s take a deeper dive into these teams and discuss which side we should be taking.
Bengals vs. 49ers Odds and Match Details
Team | Spread | Total | ML |
Cincinnati Bengals | +5.5
|
O45
-110 |
+190 |
San Francisco 49ers | -5.5 -110 |
U45
-110 |
-230 |
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
- Fixture: Cincinnati Bengals @ San Francisco 49ers
- Date and Time: October 29, 2023 at 4:25 p.m.
- Location: Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California
- Weather Forecast: Sunny and 67 degrees
- Field Surface: Bermuda Grass
Bengals vs. 49ers Injury Report
Bengals Injuries
- Orlando Brown (OT)-Groin: Questionable
49ers Injuries
- Deebo Samuel (WR)-Shoulder: OUT
- Trent Williams (LT)-Ankle: Questionable
Bengals Key Stats
The Cincinnati Bengals have been arguably one of the most disappointing offenses this season as they are 28th with just 16.7 points per game thus far. They are 26th in passing yards (186.5) and 31st in rushing yards (69.8) this season and things need to improve quickly. Quarterback Joe Burrow has been struggling as he is currently 147-of-232 (63.4 completion percentage) for 1,230 yards with seven touchdowns to four interceptions.
Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has been open like a 7-11 and has been playing very well as he currently has 50 catches on 73 targets for 556 yards (11.1 yards per reception) for 556 yards and three touchdown grabs. He has been targeted 13+ times in three of his last four games so expect the ball to be going his way early and often.
Defensively, the Cincinnati Bengals are close to league average as they are tied for 17th in the NFL with 21.2 points on 375.2 total yards per game. The secondary has been doing very well as they have recorded eight interceptions and 29 pass deflections on the year so if they can continue to step up and dominate, things are going to continue pointing up for this Cincinnati Bengals team.
49ers Key Stats
The 49ers have been one of the most prolific offenses throughout the season as they are second in the NFL with 28.7 points per game. They are doing well as they are 11th in passing yards (228.3) and seventh in rushing yards (136.4) up to this point. Quarterback Brock Purdy had two struggling games in a row and people are beginning to lose faith in his production. He is currently 131-of-193 (67.9 completion percentage) for 1,668 yards with 11 touchdowns to three interceptions. However, he is in concussion protocol and likely will miss this game so expect to see Sam Darnold under center.
It definitely helps when they have an All-Pro running back in Christian McCaffrey as he is producing as one of the most valuable players in the sport. On the season, he has 125 rushing attempts for 598 yards (4.8 yards per carry) with eight rushing touchdowns as well as 26 receptions for 228 yards (8.8 yards per catch) with three receiving touchdowns. He has a knack for finding the end zone and should continue doing just that.
Their defense has been one of the best in all of the National Football League as they are third with 15.6 points on 318.1 total yards per game. Their defense has allowed 10 total touchdowns through seven games and forced 11 interceptions so they can continue to dominate and put the offense in great positions to win here.
Game Prediction
The Cincinnati Bengals are trending in the right direction while the San Francisco 49ers are trending in the wrong direction right now. The 49ers are going to be without Deebo Samuel already and are scoring 17 points in their last two games. San Francisco has lost to PJ Walker and Kirk Cousins and going up against Joe Burrow is going to be a huge test.
Brock Purdy is in concussion protocol and the injuries are piling up. I will take the better quarterback getting 5.5 points in this game to cover the spread with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Final Pick