Week 8, Best Non-Chiefs matchups: Bengals-49ers will tell us a lot
By Grant Tuttle
It's that time of the week again. We begin to prepare for another glorious week of NFL football. As the Chiefs gear up for their second matchup with the Denver Broncos, we take a look around the NFL to consider what games you should have your eye on that don't involve our beloved Kansas City Chiefs.
This week, there are a number of games that seem like "make or break" games for teams across the NFL. For the teams in the middle of the pack, now is the time to start your ascension. If you can't find your footing within the next two weeks, you can kiss your season goodbye.
So, which games are most intriguing? We discuss the week's best non-Chiefs games.
1. Cincinnati Bengals @ San Francisco 49ers
Game Time: Sunday, October 29, 3:25 PM CT
Odds Via DraftKings Sportsbook: 49ers (-3.5)
TV: CBS/NFL Sunday Ticket
The Bengals enter this one as the winners of three straight. With recent victories over the Rams, Titans, and Cardinals, Cincinnati has a chance to prove that they are really back and deserve to be feared. To this point in the season, things have been clunky and they have not had the winning games in the same way that they once did. If they are truly back, they will need to prove it this week against the San Francisco 49ers.
The 49ers are on the complete flipside of the Bengals. They are losers of two straight. With a loss against the Browns and the Vikings, it is very important that they don't begin a slide that they can not recover from. While the 49ers have great talent all over the roster, they have real injury concerns. San Francisco needs to stop the bleeding and they absolutely need to come away from this one.
The bottom line: I've got the 49ers in this one. San Francisco is more talented across the board and they have to stop the bleeding. Expect the 49ers to make some big plays on the offensive side of the ball that Cincinnati will not be able to keep pace with.
Prediction: 49ers 27, Bengals 22