Fact or Fiction: Predictions for Sunday Night Football

The Giants.com crew is presented with four statements and must decide whether they are Fact or Fiction.

The Bengals have the toughest offense that the Giants will face this season.

John Schmeelk: Fact – The Bengals are a complete offense and it’s hard to find their weakness. According to Pro Football Focus, the Bengals have allowed the lowest pressure rate in the NFL this season (27.2%). They will have a rookie starting at right tackle in Amarius Mims but the unit has been solid with the help of a quarterback in Joe Burrow, who gets the ball out quickly (2.68 seconds average time to throw – ninth-fastest in the NFL). They have a strong, albeit banged up, duo of running backs in Zack Moss, who attacks between the tackles, and Chase Brown, who has the speed to break big plays. I purposely buried the lead because there’s no question that Joe Burrow-Ja’Marr Chase-Tee Higgins is the best wide receiver-quarterback trio in the NFL. The Bengals might be the best offense in football right now having scored at least 34 points in their last three games. They can do it all.

Matt Citak: Fact – Joe Burrow’s performance through the first five games has him in the MVP discussion. He has perhaps the NFL’s most talented wide receiver duo in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Chase ranks second in the NFL with 493 receiving yards, while his five receiving touchdowns are tied for the league-lead. All of this production has come after he missed all of training camp. Meanwhile, Higgins has 15 receptions for 143 yards and two touchdowns over the last two games after missing the first two weeks of the season. The Bengals rank inside the top five in third down offense, fourth down offense and red zone offense. Sunday night will be the biggest challenge of the season for the Giants’ defense.

The Giants’ defense will sack Joe Burrow at least three times on Sunday night.

John Schmeelk: Fiction – Joe Burrow has been sacked only 11 times in five games this season. He might not have the best arm, but he always knows where to go with the ball, gets it out quickly, accurately, and on time. He also has just enough mobility to navigate the pocket and avoid the rush. The Giants’ pass rush should create enough pressures to impact the game; I just don’t think Burrow will hold the ball long enough for them to get home three times.

Matt Citak: Fact – Even with Burrow’s hot start, the fifth-year quarterback has been sacked three times in three of five games this season. The Giants lead the NFL with 22 sacks on the season, two more than any other team, with Dexter Lawrence’s six sacks leading the charge. Lawrence and Brian Burns will have to step up with Kayvon Thibodeaux dealing with a wrist injury, along with Azeez Ojulari. Nonetheless, the Giants’ pass rush will be able to get to Burrow for at least three sacks in this primetime matchup.