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Your Atlanta Falcons are ridiculously banged up. They are down both starting safeties, their starting middle linebacker, their left guard and probably some combination of their starting running back and one of their starting defensive ends. If this were a less talented team, you’d give them no chance to beat the resurgent Bengals.
This being the Falcons, though, that’s not quite an option. The offense is simply too good, having hung 68 points over the last two weeks against two quality division opponents, and the defense is a turnover or some improvement to the pass rush away from enabling the Falcons to win shootouts. They may well be dead in the water, but it’s too soon to abandon ship, and they’re at least going to make this season fun if they keep scoring like that.
For Sunday’s home tilt against Cincinnati, Atlanta will need to clamp down a lot tighter on Andy Dalton. They’ll also need to fight through a Bengals defense that can theoretically get after the passer very real, even if it’s only in fits and starts. Here’s what you’ll need to know for the game ahead.
Falcons-Bengals key information
What: Atlanta Falcons vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
When: Sunday, September 30, 1:00 p.m. EST
Channel: FOX
Radio: 92.9 The Game
SB Nation Site: Cincy Jungle