The Green Bay Packers will host an uncommon opponent coming out of the bye on Sunday: the 2-3 Cincinnati Bengals, who are struggling without their starting quarterback but have several former Packers on the roster.

The Bengals have lost three straight games after a 2-0 start, including blowout losses to the Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos and a decisive defeat at the hands of the Detroit Lions last week. Cincinnati now has the worst point differential in football (-71), with the 29th ranked scoring offense and 30th ranked scoring defense.

Can the Packers keep the Bengals bungling and get a win coming out of the bye?

Here’s a closer look at the Bengals entering Week 5:

Last week

The Bengals dropped a third straight game without Joe Burrow in a 37-24 loss at home to the Detroit Lions in Week 5. Cincinnati trailed 14-3 at halftime and 28-3 going into the fourth quarter, and it took 21 fourth quarter points — including a pair of touchdowns from Ja’Marr Chase — to get the final score to within 13 points. Quarterback Jake Browning threw interceptions on three of the offense’s first seven possessions, helping fuel Detroit’s big lead. Browning did throw three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter but it was too little too late. The Lions scored on their opening possession and turned two of Browning’s interceptions into immediate touchdown drives. Trey Hendrickson tallied 2.0 sacks, and Chase caught six passes for 110 yards. The Bengals got within 11 points twice in the fourth quarter but very really threatened a comeback; the Lions controlled the game from start to finish.

Newcomers

The Bengals have gotten little from their 2025 draft class, including first-round pick Shemar Stewart, who has played in only two games. Veteran newcomers include former Packers defensive lineman TJ Slaton, who has three quarterback hits and nine run stops, and tight end Noah Fant, who has 12 catches and a touchdown. The Bengals also added four other former Packers: linebacker/special teamer Oren Burks, offensive lineman Lucas Patrick (on IR), nose tackle Mike Pennel and quarterback Sean Clifford. There’s also a late addition: veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, who was acquired via trade with the Cleveland Browns on Tuesday. Flacco faced the Packers in Week 3.

Quarterback play

Herein lies the big question mark, although the Bengals are down to desperate options after losing Joe Burrow. Will Zac Taylor go with Jake Browning, who has started 10 games for the Bengals over the last three seasons but is really struggling, or Joe Flacco, who is far more experienced but is arriving in Cincinnati on Tuesday and has also struggled to start the 2025 season? Browning is second in the NFL with eight interceptions, but Flacco ranks third with six. Both quarterbacks have struggled with accuracy, creating big plays and performing under pressure. There isn’t a great choice here. Browning knows the scheme better, and Flacco has started over 200 games (including the postseason), but the Bengals are only making a trade for Flacco, who is 40 years old and was benched in Cleveland, because Browning hasn’t been nearly good enough. Other options are Brett Rypien and former Packer Sean Clifford.

Line of scrimmage

The Bengals might be the worst running team in football. Through five weeks, Cincinnati is averaging only 3.1 yards per carry and have the least amount of rushing yards in the NFL (despite several teams already having byes). By PFF’s pass-blocking grade, the Bengals rank 29th; by run-blocking grade, they rank 32nd. Cincinnati has six players with at least 100 snaps played along the offensive line and not a single one is playing at a high level. It’s tough for any quarterback, much less a backup, to operate in an offense that can’t run the ball or pass protect in obvious passing situations.

Defensively, the Bengals look like a middle-of-the-pack front, although Trey Hendrickson is an elite player. Former Packer TJ Slaton is creating disruptive plays against the run. Outside of Hendrickson, the Bengals lack a pass-rusher that will scare an offensive line. Myles Murphy, Joseph Ossai, BJ Hill and Kris Jenkins are the primary rushers up front.

Turnovers

The Bengals have the third-worst turnover differential in football at -5, which is mostly due to Jake Browning’s nasty interception habit. Cincinnati’s defense does have five interceptions, including a pair from safety Jordan Battle and one from slot Dax Hill. Trey Hendrickson got a strip-sack on Jared Goff last week and now has 12 forced fumbles since 2021, so Jordan Love must protect the football inside the pocket. Over the last three weeks, the Bengals have lost the turnover battle 8-2, including a five-turnover fright fest in Minnesota. Forcing whoever starts at quarterback for the Bengals into turnovers will be a big key for the Packers defense on Sunday.

Injury situation

There is no bigger injury in this game than Joe Burrow’s toe, which will keep him out most of the season and is likely to sink Cincinnati’s season. The Bengals are also without former Packer Lucas Patrick, who is on IR, and starting left guard Cordell Volson, who is also on IR. First-round pick Shemar Stewart hasn’t played since Week 2 after injuring his ankle.

Players to know

WR Ja’Marr Chase: An elite of the elites at receiver. Chase has four straight 1,000-yard seasons but is averaging a career-low 74.8 yards per game in 2025. Can the Packers keep him from taking over?

RB Chase Brown: He leads the Bengals with 83 touches from scrimmage. The problem? He’s averaging 2.5 yards per carry and 5.3 yards per reception. Ensuring Brown remains ineffective will be a key Sunday.

DBs Jordan Battle/Geno Stone: The Bengals safety duo is good against the run, and they haven’t allowed a touchdown pass in coverage this season. Battle has two picks but has missed a team-high nine tackles.

K Evan McPherson: The 26-year-old kicker has made all 15 of his kicks — five field goals, 10 extra points — this season. He’s 1-for-1 on kicks of at least 50 yards and has a good leg (25 of 36 career on 50+, long of 59).

Other passing game weapons: Outside of Chase, the Bengals actually have a deep group of pass-catchers including Tee Higgins, Andrei Iosivas, Noah Fant and Mike Gesicki. They are big targets who can run, but it’s been tough getting them the football post Burrow injury.