Cowboys vs Bengals: 3 bold predictions for Monday’s matchup

Here are our bold predictions for Monday night’s matchup.

After a 10-day layoff, the Dallas Cowboys return to action on Monday night as they host the Cincinnati Bengals. This is basically an elimination game for both teams, so it figures to be a competitive contest.

Before the two teams square off, here are three bold predictions for the matchup.

1) Joe Burrow continues his dominant season, throwing 3+ touchdown passes for the fifth-consecutive game

When you look at Joe Burrow’s season stats, it’s hard to believe the Bengals have a 4-8 record. The former number-one overall pick is living up the the billing, having the best season of his young career. Burrow leads the NFL with 30 touchdown passes and 3,337 passing yards with just five interceptions.

The 27-year-old quarterback has recorded nine multi-touchdown games on the year, including throwing three or more in a single game six times. Burrow is top six in the NFL in EPA + CPOE (0.159), EPA/Play (0.214), CPOE (4.8), and Success Rate (52.1%).

Burrow has been far from the reason why the Bengals are all but out of playoff contention. He and the Bengals’ offense have scored 30 or more points in a game six times this season, but have just a 2-4 record in those games. If Cincinnati didn’t have such a bad defense, Burrow would be a near-lock to take home this year’s MVP award.

This week Burrow should continue his dominant season against a Cowboys’ defense that has struggled against top offenses. The signal-caller puts together another great performance, throwing three or more touchdown passes for the fifth consecutive game.

2) CeeDee Lamb records a season-high 150 receiving yards

As mentioned above, the Bengals’ defense as a whole has been atrocious this season. Cincinnati has given up the fourth-most passing touchdowns (22) and sixth-most passing yards (2,892) in the league. They also have the third-worst defensive success rate (47.35) and fourth-worst defensive Rush EPA (0.023) and Dropback EPA (0.140).

When Cincinnati’s defense has struggled, the Bengals have not won games. When the Bengals have given up 26 or more points, they are 0-7. When they’ve given up 25 or fewer, they are 4-1. If the Cowboys can score three or more touchdowns in this game, they should have a good shot at walking away with a win.

One of Cincinnati’s biggest problems on defense this season has been slowing down the opposing team’s top receiving threats. Below are some of the best receivers the Bengals have faced this season and how they have done against Cincinnati’s defense.

Zay Flowers = 7 receptions, 111 yards
Terry McLaurin = 4 receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD
A.J. Brown = 5 receptions, 84 yards
DeVonta Smith = 6 receptions, 85 yards, 1 TD
Ladd McConkey = 6 receptions, 123 yards
Jakobi Meyers = 8 receptions, 105 yards

This bodes very well for Dallas’ top wideout CeeDee Lamb. The 25-year-old has been a bit quiet the past two weeks, but that will change Monday night. Lamb puts on display one of the best performances of his career, recording 150+ receptions yards on 11 receptions.

3) Both teams combine to score 60+ total points

There is going to be plenty of offense in this game. The O/U total for the matchup currently sits at 49.5, and the teams are going to soar past that total.

For the first time in weeks, the Cowboys face a defense that they should be able to move the ball through the air against. CeeDee Lamb and Dallas’ receivers will consistently have favorable matchups, allowing Cooper Rush to get the ball out quickly to open receivers.

We’ve seen what the Bengals’ offense has done this season, even against some of the better defenses in the NFL. Dallas’ defense is playing much better, but they still are a unit that has its fair share of issues. Burrow and company will take advantage of this, using their dynamic passing attack to hurt Dallas through the air.

This game turns into one of the more entertaining Monday Night Football matchups of the season as both offenses light up the scoreboard.