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Assessing Bengals Big Play Problem

Oct 8, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

By Alex Schubert on January 2, 2024

Over the past couple seasons, Cincinnati has spent the final week of the season worrying about its impending playoff run. This year is not the same case, as the Bengals officially have been eliminated from postseason contention.

Now, they have to spend Week 18 doing what every other eliminated team has to do – begin implementing their plan for 2024. That plan starts with addressing their defense’s biggest problem of late – giving up the big play.

Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs was no different, as the Bengals allowed six plays to go for 20 yards or more (including one punt return). They all put the Chiefs in a prime position to score:

A 35 yard rush by Isiah Pacheco on the Chiefs’ first lone touchdown drive
A 21 yard reception by Pacheco on the Chiefs’ first field goal drive
A 37 yard rush by Pacheco on the Chiefs’ second field goal drive
A 41 yard reception by Justin Watson on the Chiefs’ third field goal drive
A 67 yard reception by Rashee Rice on the Chiefs’ fourth field goal drive
A 27 yard punt return by Richie James on the Chiefs’ sixth and final field goal drive, which put the Chiefs into Bengals territory

The Chiefs’ lone scoring drive to not include a big play was a 13 play, 39 yard drive that took nearly seven minutes off the clock. These big plays came merely one week after the Bengals allowed Steelers WR George Pickens to have three receptions that went for 86, 66, and 44 yards; the first two went for touchdowns.

A big reason for the increase in big plays allowed was this past offseason, when two key cogs in the Bengals’ defense over the past few years departed for the NFC South.

Vonn Bell departed for the Panthers and Jessie Bates signed with Atlanta. As of the end of Week 17, the Panthers have allowed the fewest passing yards in the NFL and the Falcons rank sixth in pass yards allowed. Their arrivals, in addition to those teams’ good fortunes of playing in the NFC South, have played a massive role in those rankings.

The Bengals, meanwhile, have allowed the second most passing yards in the NFL while ranking 12th in points allowed. It continues their trend of Cincinnati’s “Bend Don’t Break” defense.

Cincinnati has transitioned from veterans Jessie Bates and Vonn Bell at safety to Dax Hill and Jordan Battle, who have been a far less effective duo. It could be attributed to growing pains, as this is Dax Hill’s first full season as a starter, and Jordan Battle came in and was named the starter midway through the season after Nick Scott proved to be a major disappointment of a signing.

The general consensus among the defense is the big plays are due to communication issues from the safeties. Considering the inexperience of Hill and Battle, the best case scenario is that those issues can be attributed to growing pains, and can be significantly improved in the offseason with a full training camp under their belt.

Defensive back and team interception leader Cam Taylor-Britt acknowledged after the game on Sunday that the secondary needs to improve its communication in order to prevent big plays.

Mike Hilton acknowledged the explosive play problem as well.

“We’re a talented defense. We take the ball away. But we give up so many explosive plays, our taking the ball away don’t mean a damn thing,” Hilton said in an interview.

With the season finale officially rendered meaningless, Cincinnati’s secondary may now shift their focus to improving their communication ahead of their Week 18 matchup with Cleveland. The Browns, who have locked in the number five seed in the AFC, have seen Joe Flacco come back to life with a vengeance out of absolutely nowhere.

They can also work on addressing ways that they can fix the problem in the offseason. The Bengals no longer have their veteran field general in Jessie Bates, who made Lou Anarumo’s life making a gameplan much easier, so they have to look elsewhere to find a player who can contribute the way he was able to. If they choose to go the veteran route, there are players like Micah Hyde, Jordan Whitehead, and previous free agent target CJ Gardner-Johnson who could be potential options.

If Cincinnati chooses to give those veterans a look, they’re in a good spot. They have the financial freedom to do exactly as such while resigning current key players and addressing other positions of need.

Either way, if Cincinnati wants to make a Super Bowl run in 2024, the issue of allowing chunk plays must be given a very close look.

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