Since the Bengals will likely be without three key offensive players, they could use some generosity from the Raiders

CINCINNATI (WKRC) – Here are five notable storylines in the Bengals' game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, which begins at 1 p.m. at Paycor Stadium:

5. Marvin Lewis returns to Paycor Stadium

The thin one: Former Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis will make his return to Paycor Stadium as an assistant coach with the Raiders – officially listed as assistant head coach to Antonio Pierce.

Lewis was the Bengals' head coach from 2003 to 2018, compiling a regular-season record of 131-122-3. He led the Bengals to the playoffs in seven different seasons, but went 0-7 in playoff games. The 131 wins represent 29th in NFL history.

Bengals special teams coordinator and assistant head coach Darrin Simmons was with Lewis throughout his tenure and was then taken over by current Bengals head coach Zac Taylor.

“I’ve always been a big fan of his,” Simmons said of Lewis. “He’s the reason I’m here. I will always have great respect for the fact that he believed in me enough to bring me here as a young man when many others probably wouldn't have. It’s good to see him. “He’s still in the league. He really helps the coaches with that because he's never been in that role. That he's seen so much in this league that he can be a big help as a defensive coordinator, as a position coach and as a head coach.

Taylor said he had limited interactions with Lewis but said he had “a lot of respect for him.”

“He’s done such a great job over such a long period of time,” Taylor said. “I know he’s in Vegas now and would love to say hello. Once again, all the respect in the world for him. He has always treated me very well in the three or four conversations we have had over the years.”

4. Raiders rookie tight end Bowers has really impressed

The thin one: Las Vegas rookie tight end Brock Bowers was selected 13th overall by Georgia in the 2024 draft and despite being such a high pick, he has likely exceeded the Raiders' expectations.

Entering this week's games, he led the NFL with 52 receptions, and his 535 receiving yards lead all tight ends. The 52 receptions in the first eight games are the most in that span by a tight end in NFL history.

“Really strong, turns into a running back when he has the ball in his hands. So not only does he have tremendous quickness and separation ability, but he's also really hard to bring down once he gets the ball,” Taylor said. “He’s similar to (Bengals wide receiver) Ja’Marr (Chase) in that way. Once he has the ball, he usually doesn't go down on first contact and thinks he's going to score on every single play. You can really see that in him. “I think he’s made a lot of progress in the running game as well. So it's not surprising that he's making the most of being a great source of energy for their offense, and that's something we have to be aware of.”

According to a stat in the Raiders game notes, Bowers has 280 yards after catch this season, which is the most of any tight end in the NFL.

“They do a good job of getting the ball in his hands, similar to what Georgia did. They just found ways to get to him quickly and let him go down the field and let him do the rest,” Taylor said. “He did well.”

The last top-rated tight end the Bengals faced was Cleveland's David Njoku two weeks ago, and Njoku finished the game with 10 receptions on 14 targets for 76 yards and a touchdown.

Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo said Bowers will be a big challenge.

“I remember being at the draft meetings of some of these guys and you just saw him on the college tape, and once he got his hands on the ball, he really became a factor,” Anarumo said. “He’s a good route runner; he can get the ball. Against Denver earlier this year, he had a 57-yard touchdown that went straight up and took him away from the safety. He can do anything.”

3. The Raiders finish Crosby again in a long line of tough matchups

The thin one: The Bengals have certainly had a lot of good defensive linemen to contend with this season, and they'll add another to the list this week in Raiders standout end Maxx Crosby.

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Crosby has been selected to the Pro Bowl each of the last three seasons, ranked fourth in AP Defensive Player of the Year voting and sixth in voting last season the award in 2022.

He will line up on both sides of the line, so it will be a test for rookie right tackle Amarius Mims and likely left tackle Cody Ford, who would start if Orlando Brown Jr. is unable to play due to his knee/fibula injury listed him as doubtful on the official injury report for the game.

“Someone to definitely keep an eye on every snap,” Taylor said. “He doesn’t make the playoffs. You know, he's playing close to 100 percent, which is what you'll see from a guy in terms of snap count. He's a problem (in the) running game, in.” The passing game is huge. There is a lot of respect for his style of play and impact, and his overall approach is impressive.”

Crosby ranks second in the NFL in tackles for loss with 10 this season, is seventh in quarterback sacks with 6.5 and is third in passes defended with three. Since entering the league as a fourth-round draft choice out of Eastern Michigan in 2019, Crosby ranks first among defensive linemen in tackles for loss (98), third in sacks (58.5), and second in quarterback hits (135) and third in quarterback pressures (388) and fifth in tackles (345).

“He’ll be able to put pressure on the passer; he’s going to make plays in the run game,” Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow said. “You have to limit your ability to influence the game, so we will be prepared for that. We're going to continue to create variety, run the game, pass the game, play action. The biggest thing is eliminating 98s (Crosby's uniform) number) ability to impact the game.”

2. The Raiders gave the ball away generously

The thin one: The Raiders are allowing 26.3 points per game, although their defense ranks 11th in yards allowed per game (319.0) as they lead the NFL with 17 turnovers.

Their turnover margin is minus-13, which is the 31st worst rate in the NFL.

“I mean, the thing that killed them is their turnovers, and so when you're at the bottom of the league, obviously that takes away a lot of possessions,” Taylor said. “Some of them were for touchdowns, so they gave the other team points. When you eliminate that, you see where the offense can really move the ball and impact you, and on defense they play really hard. They're doing a good job.” I think what they're doing is creating a lot of problems for the offense. I know the record is what it is, but that's not what the tape shows and we feel the same way in many cases. It's going to be a tough test for us.

Veteran quarterback Gardner Minshew has thrown eight interceptions but has proven throughout his career that he can be dangerous.

“He's always been a guy who gets into a really good rhythm, gets involved with you and is so confident, can buy some time with his feet, can throw on the move, also gets into a great rhythm and is also a good rhythm passer “,” Taylor said. “He's played a lot of football. We've played against him before. He's had success and that's why he can be dangerous for them again.”

The Bengals are 16th in the NFL in takeaways with eight (six interceptions and two fumbles), and seventh in the fewest giveaways with eight (three interceptions and five fumbles).

1. Three key injuries that could impact the struggling offense

The thin one: The Bengals' offense enters this game on a three-game lull (269.0 yards and 18.3 points per game over that span) and will likely be without three key offensive players in the game.

Wide receiver Tee Higgins (quad), left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. (knee/fibula) and running back Zack Moss (neck) are each listed as questionable for the game. In the NFL, it is extremely rare for a player listed as doubtful on the injury report to actually play in the game.

If Higgins doesn't play, it will be the fourth game this season he has missed due to injury, and the Bengals have lost each of the first three, including last week's 37-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Rookie third-round pick Jermaine Burton should receive a significant increase in playing time in place of Higgins as Andrei Iosivas has struggled recently. Burton played 24 snaps against the Eagles and had one reception for 41 yards after playing a total of 25 snaps in the first seven games, including one reception for 47 yards.

“He can separate and catch the football,” Taylor said. “That route he ran (for the 41-yard catch against Philadelphia) was a good job. He won quickly and came from the top and was able to stack it and secure (the reception) for a big play. His chances will continue to exist.” I'm excited to see where Jermaine goes.

Tight end Mike Gesicki will also likely need more production for the second straight game after receiving seven balls for 73 yards against Philadelphia, but Higgins will be a big loss if he doesn't play.

“He’s a top player in this league,” Taylor said. “I felt like the other guys were getting stronger. I thought Mike Gesicki stepped up and made some really great catches, and I thought the defenders did a good job on some check downs and got some positive yards. Jermaine made one.” Great play on the go route and a step up, so he can do more to help us. We're always excited to have Tee out there because he makes a lot of big plays for us, but I think we're starting to see other guys step up as well and we're comfortable with them.”

Brown was sidelined in the second quarter of each of the last two games due to the leg injury and was replaced each time by Ford.

This would be the first game in Brown's seven-year career to be missed if he does not play.

Moss hasn't been particularly productive as a runner – 242 yards and a 3.3 per carry average – but he's an excellent pass protector and his 23 receptions rank fourth on the team. Chase Brown's role has increased in recent weeks, and that role will likely increase even further with veteran Trayveon Williams likely to call him on a few occasions.

PREDICTION: Bengals 26, Raiders 17

The thin one: Since the Bengals are 0-4 at home, the law of averages alone should be in their favor, but they are also 3-1 this season against teams with two or fewer wins (wins over the Carolina Panthers, New York Giants and Cleveland Brown's). and a loss to the New England Patriots).