The Cincinnati Bengals probably need a win to salvage their season when they take on the Arizona Cardinals this weekend.

Yes, it’s early, and yes, the there are now 17 games instead of the 16 we were used to a few years ago, but let’s face it: the Bengals are 1-3 and they are playing in a tough AFC North division that includes the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns.

So, yeah; they need a win.

But will they be able to get it?

Here are three predictions for Cincinnati going into its Week 5 matchup.

Joe Burrow Will Have His Best Game of 2023 Thus Far

I mean this in relative terms.

Joe Burrow is clearly not 100 percent. He said so himself. The Bengals quarterback is nursing a calf injury that has been plaguing him since training camp, so he is obviously compromised.

Burrow has looked horrendous over the first four games, going without a touchdown pass in three of them. He owns a 69.1 passer rating on the year. He is completing just 57.6 percent of his throws.

But here’s the thing: Burrow has faced some mighty fine defenses over the first four weeks, including the Browns and the Ravens.

The Cardinals will be the worst defensive club he has seen yet, and Arizona ranks 24th in pass defense.

Am I saying that Burrow will look like his 2022 Pro Bowl self? No, but I do anticipate that he will perform better in Week 5 than he has in any other game this season.

We Will See a Heavy Does of Joe Mixon

The Cardinals are allowing 132 rushing yards per game, so with Burrow hobbled, expect the Bengals to hand the ball off to running back Joe Mixon quite a bit.

Mixon has not seen heavy usage thus far this season, as he is yet to log 20 carries in a single game. Most recently, he rushed for a season-high 67 yards on 14 attempts in Cincy’s Week 4 loss to the Tennessee Titans.

Week 5 could very well represent a breakout game for Mixon.

While Mixon’s production has slowed since 2022 and he has never really been an especially efficient runner (he has a lifetime average of 4.1 yards per carry), the Bengals will absolutely need him to set the tone this weekend against an Arizona run defense that has seen better days.

Mixon should get a lot touches, which should open up the offense and make things considerably easier for Burrow and the aerial attack.

The Bengals Will Win Ugly

With Burrow as compromised as he is, I’m not sure the Bengals have it in them to blow anybody out right now. Their lone win thus far this season was a 19-16 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3.

But right now, Cincinnati will likely take whatever type of victory it can get.

Burrow and Co. have to know that their season is on the line this Sunday. If the Bengals lose, they will be 1-4 in a loaded AFC playoff race, so at that point, they could probably kiss their postseason hopes goodbye.

There will surely be a a sense of urgency for Cincy, and because the Cardinals are very beatable, I envision the Bengals doing just enough to eke out a win.

Would that mean they would vault themselves back into the playoff conversation? No, but it would at least give them some life as they prepare for a murderer’s row of a schedule with games against the Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills following the meeting in Arizona.

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