Bengals Bytes (9/23): Hard to explain

What to watch in NFL Week 3: Aaron Rodgers has never beaten Bengals
A pair of very, very different streaks are on the line on Sunday when most of the NFL wraps up its September slate. The Broncos, who are looking like one of the best teams in the early part of the season, are trying to extend an impressive streak. The Saints, however, are trying to end an unfortunate one.

Numbers game: Pack numbing at home
Andy Dalton: 5th best road record since 2011 vs. Aaron Rodgers' best home passer rating ever. 51-61 _ Bengals’ road record under head coach Marvin Lewis 66-22-1 _ Packers’ home record under head coach Mike McCarthy 13-13 _ Lewis’ road record vs. NFC 15-7 _ McCarthy’s home record vs AFC. 8-1 _ Lewis vs. the NFC North. 4-4 _ McCarthy vs. AFC North.

Top 50 Moments: Forrest Gregg Leads Bengals to First Super Bowl
On Jan. 10, 1982, owner Paul Brown walked through the minus-59 wind chill to the home locker room to congratulate the first Bengals team to ever go to the Super Bowl. "I remember how elated he was," said coach Forrest Gregg. "He had a big smile and said, 'We're going to the Super Bowl.'" Brown and Gregg helped sow the roots of the Bengals victory in the Freezer Bowl on a muddy field in Philadelphia 20 years before that. It always seems to be like that in the NFL, where small quirks of history end up blocking for championships.

Quick hits: Eifert, Ross out for Sunday; Lewis says Lazor re-directing; No tundra; Kumerow waived
After Friday's walk-through, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis ruled out tight end Tyler Eifert (back) for Sunday's game (4:25 p.m.-Cincinnati’s Channel 12) in Green Bay. Lewis offered his standard "we'll see," on Eifert 's status beyond this week. What they do know is he's now missed 27 of the last 50 games ... Bengals rookie wide receiver John Ross jogged out to Friday’s walk-through but was also ruled out. It's believed the Bengals were getting another MRI for his knee and it's hard to say what his immediate future is, too, because Lewis also played the 'we'll see,' card. So it looks like it's a big "we'll see," down the road for two first-round picks they projected to have big impacts on the offense ...

TDBH: Bengals spring star-spangled upset of defending Super Bowl Champ Ravens
With emotions running as high as the Stars and Stripes at flag-festooned Paul Brown Stadium today in their first game since the Sept. 11 tragedy, the Bengals respond with an upset as American as apple pie when they beat the defending Super Bowl champion Ravens, 21-10. The highlight play on the highlight day comes courtesy of fourth-year vet Takeo Spikes, who along with fellow linebacker Brian Simmons is the heart-and-soul of a defense that has the Bengals 2-0 for the first time since 1995. Spikes' 66-yard interception return for a touchdown with 6:04 left in the game seals the Bengals’ biggest win in more than a decade.

Do Toothless Offenses Like The Bengals’ Ever Recover?
The Bengals entered this year as playoff contenders with a retooled offense that was considered one of the fastest units in the NFL. But two games into the season, they’ve kicked three field goals. And that’s it, that’s all the points the team has scored. Cincinnati’s inability to score a touchdown in its first two games (both losses) has led to the quick dismissal of offensive coordinator Ken Zampese in his 15th season with the team.

Andy Dalton's struggles go beyond the offensive line, date to 2016
Andy Dalton hasn't exactly had the benefit of a clean pocket this season. He's been sacked eight times, and on 40 percent of his dropbacks under duress. That's the third-worst percentage in the NFL, according to ESPN Stats & Information. But that's not entirely why he and the Bengals have struggled this season. The Cincinnati Bengals are 0-2 and have yet to score a touchdown, but Dalton has actually handled pressure fairly well. He ranks among the top 10 quarterbacks in passing yards and completion percentage under pressure.

Back injury to sideline Cincinnati Bengals TE Tyler Eifert for Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers
Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert will miss Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers because of a back injury, head coach Marvin Lewis said Friday. Eifert played in the first two games but spent some time on the sideline getting stretched out during last Thursday night's game. He was not at practice all week.

Aaron Rodgers tries to explain why he's never been able to beat the Bengals
Aaron Rodgers is currently in his 10th season as the starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, and during his decade on the field, you've probably notice that he's had a lot of success. Over the past 10 years, Rodgers has won a Super Bowl and two MVP awards, and he's led the Packers to the playoffs in eight straight seasons. However, there's one thing that Rodgers hasn't been able to do, and that's beat the Cincinnati Bengals.

Bengals-Packers: Predictions, 3 keys
The Bengals kick off against Green Bay at Lambeau Field at 4:25 ET and can be seen on CBS. Jim Nantz and Tony Romo will be on the television call. The Packers (1-1) are coming off a 34-23 loss at Atlanta. The Bengals (0-2) haven't scored a touchdown this year and last lost 13-9 at home against Houston.

Tyler Eifert, John Ross out for Bengals-Packers
The reformed Bengals offense without a touchdown this year will need to get on track without two of its most explosive weapons. Tight end Tyler Eifert and first-round pick receiver John Ross both have been ruled out for Sunday’s game at Green Bay. Eifert re-injured his back in the Thursday game against the Texans and didn’t participate at all this week during practice. He was never even seen on the side rehab field during the 30 minutes of practice open to media.

AFC North Bytes

Baltimore Ravens: Bold Predictions vs. Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 3
There will be 125 offensive snaps between the two teams. Seventy of those plays will be runs and consequently the game will be over before 12:30 PM EST. The combined completion percentage of both starting quarterbacks will fall below 50%. Joe Flacco will complete just 12 passes while Blake Bortles connects 15 times – his most successful throws coming late in the game as the Ravens protect their lead.

Do Browns need to adjust long-ball mentality given their resources or live with growing pains?
Hue Jackson’s desire to stretch the field and DeShone Kizer’s ability to throw the deep ball make for an exciting marriage in an era...

T.J. Watt out vs. Bears with Groin Injury
A groin injury will force Pittsburgh Steelers rookie T.J. Watt to miss the team's Week 3 game against the Chicago Bears. Per the Steelers' official injury report, Watt has already been ruled out after not being able to practice on Thursday or Friday.

Random Bytes

PFFELO Power Rankings - Week 3 | NFL Analysis
Below is the third installment of our weekly PFFELO rankings. Like all ELO systems, PFFELO is an iterative system that updates each team’s rating after each game based on two things: how well they played against their opponent and how well they were expected to play against their opponent. The PFFELO rating system measures the former using our unique offensive, defensive and special teams grades, while the latter is determined by the PFFELO ratings leading up to the game and where the game is played.

NFL reportedly considering moving Chargers back to San Diego
Could the NFL really send the Chargers back to San Diego? It's something being discussed, according to one longtime NFL reporter. The former Sports Illustrated reporter, who has worked for NFL Media and currently writes for The Athletic, told a San Diego radio station on Thursday the NFL never wanted to lose San Diego as a market and could force Chargers owner Dean Spanos to take the team back.

Chiefs vs. Chargers: Philip Rivers and Co. have a chance to for an upset
Stop rotating running backs, Bengals! Bengals and Giants, I’m looking at you. Both teams were expected to be playoff teams but are staring down the barrel of an 0-3 start. Since 1990, 0-3 teams have made the playoffs just 2.3 percent of the time. That’s three out of 132 teams! And both teams have tough matchups this weekend.