One of Cincinnati Bengals' coach Zac Taylor's first assignments, when he was hired as an NFL assistant with the Dolphins in 2012, was cataloging videotape of Aaron Rodgers, who was the reigning NFL MVP. Taylor will have a sideline seat Sunday when the Packers (3-1) visit the improved Bengals (3-1).
Rodgers at 37 is still bringing it. Last week in Green Bay's win over the Steelers, he was 20 for 36 for 248 yards and two touchdowns. He's thrown for 897 yards as Green Bay has reeled off three straight wins after losing to New Orleans in Week 1.
Four days after Cincinnati took down the Steelers in Pittsburgh, the Bengals fell behind the Jacksonville Jaguars 14-0 at halftime of Thursday night's game. The unflappable Burrow led scores on all four second-half drives, the final one setting up Evan McPherson for a game-winning 35-yard field goal as time ran out.
Rodgers threw his 420th career touchdown pass in the win last week to tie Dan Marino for sixth all time.
Rodgers has a chance to move into the top five Sunday. He's one behind Philip Rivers, who threw 421 touchdown passes before retiring at the end of last season.
Green Bay's Davante Adams leads the NFL with 31 receptions and has more than twice as many catches as any of his teammates. Running back Aaron Jones is second on the team with 13. Randall Cobb ranks second among wideouts with nine.
But the Packers did show they're capable of spreading the ball around when the Steelers limited Adams to six catches for 64 yards and no touchdowns. Cobb had two touchdown catches in the game, marking his first game with multiple touchdown catches since 2015.
Cornerback Jaire Alexander is unlikely to play Sunday as the Packers continue consulting with specialists about his injured shoulder. Outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith will miss a fourth straight game with a back issue.
David Bakhtiari, an All-Pro left tackle in 2020, hasn't played yet this season and will miss at least the first six games as he recovers from a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Elgton Jenkins, a Pro Bowl left guard last season who had been filling in at left tackle, has missed the Packers' past two games with an ankle injury.
The Packers also will be missing wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a second straight game because of a hamstring injury.
Former Raiders' first pick Kahlil Mack is set to visit Las Vegas on Sunday with the Chicago Bears (2-2). Quarterback Derek Carr still misses the player he calls ''one of my best friends in the whole world'' even as the Raiders (3-1) show signs of returning to contention.
With an improved pass rush led by Maxx Crosby and Yannick Ngakoue, the Raiders have gotten off to a strong start this season despite losing 28-14 to the Chargers last week.
The Bears had a game that was far from perfect two weeks ago when they were held to 47 yards in rookie quarterback Justin Fields' first start and lost 26-6 to Cleveland.
Chicago fared much better last week when Fields threw for 209 yards in a 24-14 win over Detroit, earning him the starting job for good.
Bears coach Matt Nagy reversed course Wednesday and declared the former Ohio State star the team's No. 1 quarterback after insisting two days earlier that spot still belonged to veteran Andy Dalton.
Las Vegas ranks 31st in the league in rushing, averaging 3.25 yards per carry, and has allowed 12 sacks, fifth most in the NFL.
The Bears could be missing two key players, with running back David Montgomery (knee) out indefinitely and defensive tackle Akiem Hicks' status in question because of a groin injury. Both players were hurt in the win over Detroit.
