On Sunday, the Cincinnati Bengals will host the San Francisco 49ers for a Super Bowl XXIII matchup, 30 years later. As out of conference matchups tend to be, both teams aren't too familiar with each other. However, these four bold predictions can make you familiar with what to watch for in the game from the 49ers' perspective.
4. Nick Bosa toasts Andre Smith for three sacks
Nick Bosa's NFL debut was a success. Tampa Bay left tackle Donovan Smith didn't have answers for the pro-ready pass-rusher, as he accumulated a sack, three quarterback hits, and a tackle for loss. Against Andre Smith, he should do better.
Though Smith performed admirably in Week 1, he's historically inconsistent and considered to be a low-level starting left tackle. Bosa, on the other hand, has a game that's ready to feast on Smith in any way. Three sacks may sound like a lot, but it's a matchup made for Bosa to exploit.
It should be noted that at the time of this writing, Bosa isn't 100 percent to play but is probable.
3. Jimmy Garoppolo finally shakes off the rust
Jimmy Garoppolo struggled in training camp, didn't look too hot in his first preseason game, and threw a lowly 80.2 passer rating in his 2019 debut. It's fair to say that the 49ers' presumed franchise quarterback has some rust to shake off.
Cincinnati's pass defense won't give Garoppolo fits. In 2018, the Bengals' pass-defense allowed a league-high 275.9 yards per game. In Week 1, they were able to hold Russell Wilson to sub-200 yards, but he still made 16 of his 20 pass attempts and tallied two touchdowns.
The Bengals defense presents a prime opportunity for Garoppolo to shine for the first time in 2019. If the offensive line does their job, he'll do just that.
2. Andy Dalton has a big game in Zac Taylor's offense
Zac Taylor's offense is supposed to warrant similar result to the Los Angeles Rams' — for whom he coached in 2018 (quarterbacks). Though Week 1 saw his team lose, it also witnessed Andy Dalton record a league-high 418 yards.
The Bengals are expected to run the ball a lot. Last week, they didn't do that. Joe Mixon quickly left the game with an injury. There is a possibility that Mixon doesn't play on Sunday. If not, Taylor and Co. will have to resort to passing the ball against a hit-and-miss secondary.
If Mixon doesn't play or the 49ers' stout defensive line bottles up the run, expect to see Dalton air out the ball. There is a chance that he leaves Week 2 holding the most passing yards in the NFL, considering the 49ers secondary's affinity for giving up big games to quarterbacks.
1. San Francisco wins, due to their rushing attack
No Tevin Coleman, no problem. The 49ers will employ the help of Matt Breida, Raheem Mostert, and Jeff Wilson Jr. to run against a Bengals' defensive line that fared well against the 49ers in Week 1.
To combine with a predicted big game for Garoppolo, the 49ers' run-game could tread yards against a Bengals run defense that allowed 137.8 yards per game in 2018. While Breida, Mostert, and Wilson are far from household names, they continue to hold roster spots because their respective games are well-suited for Kyle Shanahan's outside zone.
Garoppolo's success may stem from facing a poor secondary, or from developing play-action from the trio mentioned above.
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