Bengals (9/21): Expanding the offensive attack

Cincinnati Bengals defense is posting Top 10 numbers after the first two weeks of the NFL season
In the first two games of the season, the Bengals' expensive defensive blueprint that took two offseasons and about $230 million in committed money to build has stirred. After stoning the Bears in Sunday's 20-17 loss on 206 yards for their fewest yards against in seven years, the Bengals are ranked sixth in the league defensively, a heady number for a unit that has not been ranked better than 26th in the last three years and not better than 17th in the last five.

Bengals’ Tee Higgins dealing with shoulder injury ahead of Week 3 vs. Steelers
Higgins quietly went to the blue injury tent in the middle of the game after going down and eventually walked off the field with trainers. He eventually returned to the game but his actual status was a question mark.

Bengals coaches respond to critiques from Chase, Burrow and fans
“I understand the frustration. The structure of that defense, generally that’s Vic Fangio’s system, is to limit big plays. They stay on top of things and do a pretty good job of that. Because they play soft they sit there and read the quarterback and it allows them to break on the ball. Sometimes it’s not as simple as throw the ball deep more. That’s a very blanket statement. There are a lot of things that go into that. At the end of the day, we didn’t make anywhere near enough explosive plays to win a game.”

Some Bengals want to expand offensive attack heading into Steelers game
As the Cincinnati Bengals get ready for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, it sounds like a few of their young offensive skill position players weren’t exactly thrilled with last week’s play calling. The Bengals (1-1) will come to Heinz Field fresh off a 20-17 loss to the Chicago Bears.

Zac Taylor Downplays the Hits on Joe Burrow, Admits Cincinnati Bengals Must Protect Him Better
"We know what the conversation always is after a game like that. Nine hits, I don’t know what’s defined as a hit. If a guy puts his hand on his shoulder and barely touches him, is that a hit?" Taylor asked. "We watch the hits. I think it’s just kind of something that people run away with, not necessarily watching exactly how they all happened and what’s defined as a hit. Often times, they just push him on the shoulder and people call it, ‘That’s one of nine hits.’ I don’t even know that he knows that he got touched."

Bengals: 3 players trending up, 3 players trending down after Week 2
The Cincinnati Bengals lost to the Chicago Bears in Week 2 by a score of 20-17. While it was a frustrating loss, three players showed that they’re heading in the right direction. On the other hand, three players had a rough game and saw their stock taking a hit as a result.

Around the league

NFL Power Rankings, Week 3: Cardinals, Raiders rise; Seahawks slip
We enter Week 3 with four teams from the same division gobbling up real estate in the top 10. This has never happened in the history of any power rankings on any website*, and it speaks to the special state of the NFC West.

Aaron Rodgers after Packers' blowout win: Nice to 'get the trolls off our backs'
Aaron Rodgers cautioned everyone not to freak out after the Week 1 blowout loss to the New Orleans Saints. Monday night, he propelled his team to a 35-17 blowout victory over the Detroit Lions with some sterling throws to overcome a first-half deficit.

The First Read, Week 3: Raiders are for real; Cowboys' defense good enough?
There's something that feels different about this year's Las Vegas Raiders. It's more than the impressive season-opening wins over Baltimore and Pittsburgh, although that has said plenty about how far this current group has come. Last year, the Raiders flirted with success, teased us with their potential and then ultimately left us wondering how they could inspire so much faith in the first place. This year's squad has the noticeable glow of a bunch that is most definitely built to last.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones sees Ezekiel Elliott-Tony Pollard RB committee as 'a great asset to this team'
"I see it as a great asset to this team. You don't have an issue. We can have more carries or more touches by the running back, and in my opinion, will. Because both the players are outstanding out of the backfield as receivers, and quite a threat," Jones said during his weekly radio interview at 105.3 The Fan. "When you see (Kellen) Moore, our coordinator, doing the job he did to neutralize (the Chargers) defense, you see what getting the ball out quick, getting the ball outside to those backs can do."