Raiders: 5 biggest games in the second half of 2021
Week 11: Cincinnati Bengals
As surprising to the NFL world that the Raiders are on top of the AFC West, there is one more surprising team that is leading another division that is coming to Vegas in Week 11, and that team is the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals are not only the number one team in the AFC North at the moment, but they are the number one team in the AFC after putting a 41-17 beat down on the Baltimore Ravens last Sunday.
Rookie wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has been sensational this year, not only topping 200 yards with an 82-yard touchdown in last week’s game against the Ravens, but he has been one of the top wide receivers in the entire league through seven games. Chase has 35 receptions for 754 yards and six touchdowns, but the Raiders have been strong in pass coverage so far this season with neither Casey Hayward nor rookie Nate Hobbs allowing a touchdown pass.
They will have their hands full with this receiving corps of the Bengals that also features Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd, and tight end C.J. Uzomah, but they now have the talent to stop teams in the passing game. Joe Burrow has also been on fire this season after tearing his ACL last season passing for 1,956 yards 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions, as the former No.1 overall pick has been living up to the billing so far in his young career.
The Bengals’ defense has also been impressive this season, led by defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who signed with the Bengals this offseason for a four-year $60 million contract. So far he has collected six and a half sacks and 36 quarterback pressures that put him right behind the Raiders Maxx Crosby and Yannick Ngakoue in that category.