LOS ANGELES RAMS (1-1) at CINCINNATI (0-2)
Monday, 8:15 p.m. EDT, ESPN
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NFL LINE: Bengals by 2 1/2.
SERIES RECORD: Bengals lead 8-7.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Baltimore 2-0; Cincinnati 0-2.
LAST MEETING: The Rams beat the Bengals 23-20 within the Tremendous Bowl on Feb. 13, 2022.
LAST WEEK: Rams misplaced to 49ers 30-23; Bengals misplaced to Ravens 27-24.
RAMS OFFENSE: OVERALL (2), RUSH (23), PASS (3), SCORING (9).
RAMS DEFENSE: OVERALL (6), RUSH (24), PASS (5), SCORING (12).
BENGALS OFFENSE: OVERALL (32), RUSH (28), PASS (30), SCORING (T30).
BENGALS DEFENSE: OVERALL (28), RUSH (31), PASS (10), SCORING (T19).
TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Rams minus-2; Bengals plus-1.
RAMS PLAYER TO WATCH: WR Puka Nacua has began his NFL profession in historic style as his 25 receptions via two video games are essentially the most by a rookie. Nacua, who’s second within the league with 266 yards receiving, has proven a knack for locating holes in defensive coverages. Nevertheless, the fifth-round draft choose from BYU has but to face in depth jamming and physicality off the road of scrimmage, one thing the Bengals do successfully.
BENGALS PLAYER TO WATCH: Joe Burrow practiced Friday, a optimistic signal for the Bengals {that a} lingering calf damage might not hold him out of Monday’s recreation. He was higher in Week 2 than Week 1, however not ok to maintain the Bengals from an 0-2 gap. The Cincinnati crew rises and falls with the star quarterback whose current contract extension made him the highest-paid participant within the league.
KEY MATCHUP: Bengals receivers in opposition to Rams cross protection. After going and not using a catch in Week 1, Tee Higgins led the Bengals with eight catches for 89 yards and two touchdowns. Ja’Marr Chase has been held to a complete of 70 receiving yards within the first two video games. Cincinnati is thirtieth out of 32 groups in passing.
KEY INJURIES: Rams OL Joe Noteboom is predicted to be obtainable after sustaining a shoulder damage in opposition to the 49ers. … Burrow is daily. … Bengals S Nick Scott is out of concussion protocol. … Bengals LB Akeem Davis-Gaither (knee) and TE Irv Smith Jr. (hamstring) had been listed as restricted contributors in Friday’s observe.
SERIES NOTES: The Monday night time recreation shall be a rematch of Tremendous Bowl 56 after the 2021 season, a 23-20 win by the Rams. … The Rams have gained two in a row over the Bengals, together with a 24-10 outcome at L.A. in 2019. … Earlier to that, Cincinnati had gained three in a row — in 2007, ‘11 and ’15 — when the Rams franchise was positioned in St. Louis. … The Rams haven’t gained in Cincinnati since Oct. 3, 1999. That was a 38-10 rout by the guests.
STATS AND STUFF: Along with rating first within the league in receptions, Nacua leads the NFL in yards after the catch (111). … After their offensive line was decimated by accidents final season, the Rams have fared a lot better up entrance via two video games, permitting only one sack. They allowed a number of sacks 13 occasions in 2022. … QB Matthew Stafford threw two interceptions within the loss to San Francisco. He has thrown a number of picks in eight of his 28 video games with Los Angeles. … Rookie OLB Byron Younger leads the Rams with 1 1/2 sacks. The third-round draft choose from Tennessee bought his first solo sack when he introduced down Brock Purdy within the second quarter. … Los Angeles has transformed 58.1% on third down (18 of 31), one among three groups to maneuver the chains at 50% or higher together with Baltimore (58.6%) and Dallas (50%). … The Rams had one cross play of 20 yards or extra in opposition to the 49ers after hitting six within the season opener on the Seahawks. They don’t have a run play of 20-plus yards via two video games. … Cincinnati’s earlier look on “Monday Evening Soccer” ended when Buffalo security Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest on the sphere at Paycor Stadium on Jan. 2. … Burrow’s interception in entrance of the Ravens’ objective line within the third quarter of final week’s loss led to a 14-point swing. … Burrow lastly discovered a rhythm within the second half of the sport and completed 27 for 41 for 222 yards and two touchdowns. … Cincinnati working again Joe Mixon has been carrying the load on the bottom, compiling 115 yards in two video games and averaging 4.4 yards per carry. … The Bengals had simply seven possessions final week, punting on three of them and turning the ball over on Burrow’s interception on one other. That got here after they punted 10 occasions within the Week 1 loss to the Browns.
FANTASY TIP: With Burrow’s standing in query, Mixon may very well be known as on to hold extra of the load. The Rams rank twenty fourth in rush protection.
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