CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals didn’t flip in a masterpiece in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams prior to a “Monday Night Football” target market, however did plethora to attain a 19-16 victory for his or her first win of the 2023 NFL season.

The Bengals stored the Rams out of the top zone for the primary 58-plus mins, with quarterback Joe Burrow and the offense doing simply plethora to enrich the aim at the alternative aspect. Right here’s what to find out about each and every staff’s efficiency:

Cincinnati Bengals

Monday evening was once about whether or not the Cincinnati Bengals had the resiliency required to be a championship contender.

In the event that they sought after to steer clear of settingup the season in a immense hollow, they had to beat the Los Angeles Rams with quarterback Joe Burrow taking part in on an injured proper calf. That’s precisely what the Bengals did in opposition to the Rams, appearing the similar form of get to the bottom of that has been on show within the staff’s deep postseason runs the endmost two seasons.

Regardless of a rocky set in that featured some boos from the house nation, the Bengals offense were given rolling past due and Burrow did plethora to maintain drives and ranking issues. The protection, which was once gashed from time to time, confused Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford in key spots, pressured two heavy surrenders and stored Los Angeles out of the top zone till the general moments.

Profitable the AFC North for a 3rd directly era shall be a problem next the Bengals dropped two divisional video games to start out. However the prime-time win at Paycor Stadium — and Burrow’s advanced fitness — provides the Bengals hope that their majestic objectives are doable.

Describe the sport in two phrases: Unsightly victory. It wasn’t nice-looking, however any staff that begins 0-2 won’t ask for forgiveness for buying its first victory of a season.

Purchase a breakout efficiency: Upcoming a past that featured him voicing his displeasure in regards to the inadequency of motion, in particular in regards to the inadequency of deep balls, Ja’Marr Chase had his greatest recreation of the season, crossing 100 receiving yards within the 3rd quarter next he hauled in a 43-yard cross from Burrow. Previous within the past, Chase and offensive coordinator Brian Callahan had a one-on-one dialog to speak about his function within the offense. The Bengals inclined on Chase to jump-start their season and he delivered.

Pivotal play games: A dropping staff can at all times have the benefit of a little of good fortune. And that’s precisely what the Bengals won early within the recreation when Rams huge receiver Tutu Atwell had a landing nullified when replay confirmed he stepped out of bounds. It stored the Bengals from going through a heavy hollow early and allowed the offense the while it had to discover a rhythm and ranking a landing of their very own, which took place within the 3rd quarter when Joe Mixon scored on a 14-yard run.

QB breakdown: Early within the recreation, it seemed as though Burrow taking part in at the injured calf wasn’t use the danger. He were given the ball out briefly and didn’t push the ball downfield. However similar to in Generation 2, he perceived to govern in all over the second one part. Burrow appeared extra relaxed shifting round, whether or not it was once at the designed rollout that arrange Chase’s heavy reception or looking to evade force. It was once the gutty efficiency the Bengals had to steer clear of a dreaded 0-3 set in. — Ben Child

Then recreation: at Titans (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Los Angeles Rams

Thru two weeks with out Cooper Kupp, the Rams’ offense gave the look of they’d live on his stint on injured keep with a hamstring shock. However in Cincinnati, the unit confirmed how a lot they had been lacking their big name receiver, failing to attain a landing till Tutu Atwell stuck a 1-yard landing cross from Matthew Stafford within the recreation’s 58th modest.

The Rams had been 1 for 11 on 3rd ill — the conversion approaching their ultimate force — and struggled to get right into a rhythm on offense all recreation. The protection inspired, particularly restricting Burrow early, however the offense did not pluck merit. Rookie huge receiver Puka Nacua, who had 25 catches in his first two NFL video games, had 5 catches for 72 yards in opposition to the Bengals.

The Rams don’t have very lengthy to proper as they play games at the street in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday afternoon.

QB breakdown: Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford finished 18 of 33 passes for 269 yards and a landing and was once intercepted two times via Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson. Stafford’s longest cross of the sport — a 46-yard finishing touch to huge receiver Van Jefferson within the 3rd quarter — was once adopted via his 2nd interception of the sport.

Troubling development: Ahead of their landing force within the waning moments, the Rams ran 8 performs within the crimson zone for minus-10 yards. Stafford was once 1-of-7 passing within the crimson zone (0-of-4 concentrated on working again Kyren Williams) and was once sacked two times. Thru Generation 2, the Rams had been 5-for-6 within the crimson zone, the most productive mark within the NFL.

Promising development: In Generation 2, Rams defensive take on Aaron Donald didn’t document a unmarried stat in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers, however he and the protection put force on Joe Burrow on Monday evening. Within the first part lonely Donald had 3 quarterback pressures on Burrow, which is as many as he had within the Rams’ first two video games this season. On the ones performs, Burrow was once 0-of-1 and sacked two times.

Perceptible-popping Then Gen stat: Stafford was once concentrated on rookie receiver Puka Nacua on his 2nd interception. It was once the forty first goal of the season for Nacua and the primary while Stafford threw an interception. — Sarah Barshop

Then recreation: at Colts (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)