Can Bengals Maintain Their Bend But Don’t Break Defense?
Syndication: The Enquirer
After losing Jessie Bates and Vonn Bell in free agency after the 2022 season, the Bengals were expected to have a defensive regression. That regression has officially taken place.
While Cincinnati is about average in scoring defense, one area has been a major problem, yards allowed. The Bengals, as it stands, are 31st in overall yards allowed per game, and are only 0.6 yards per game ahead of the worst team in this category: the Washington Commander.
Pass defense has been a major struggle, especially true of late, as Cam Taylor-Britt has been out since early December on injured reserve. Thus far in 2023, five opposing QBs have eclipsed 300 yards in a game against Cincy. The Bengals have only allowed two opposing QBs to throw for fewer than 236 yards in a game: Deshaun Watson in a rain-soaked Week 1, and the now-benched Josh Dobbs in Week 5.
Bengals’ opponents didn’t even need elite QBs to produce in the passing game. In recent weeks, Cincinnati has allowed 276 yards passing to Kenny Pickett, 240 yards to Gardner Minshew, and 303 yards passing to Nick Mullens.
As difficult as life has been for the Bengals’ pass defense, it’s about to get even worse for the run defense. DJ Reader suffered a torn quad against the Vikings and is now out for the remainder of the season.
Josh Tupou came in and played adequately for Reader, and BJ Hill has been a remarkably consistent defender this season. However, Reader’s injury comes as a tough blow to a defense that is already struggling, and defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo knows exactly how much of a contributor Reader is.
This week, Lou Anarumo called DJ Reader the most consistent player on the defense. Reader is getting carted off the field. Everyone on the defense runs over to show support.
— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) December 16, 2023
He will finish his 2023 season with 34 tackles, one sack, and one pass deflection.
While Cincinnati has struggled mightily in giving up yards, they’ve been frequently bailed out due to turnovers, as the Bengals have the second best turnover margin in the NFL at +11. They’ve recovered eight fumbles and have picked off 15 passes, the latter of which is the third most in the NFL. Their turnover skills are a big reason why Cincinnati ranks in the top ⅓ of teams in the NFL in 2023, even with all the yards given up.
One of those interceptions was this bizarre BJ Hill interception that we thought we’d post just in case you needed a giggle.
BJ Hill has better hands than Dax Hill. pic.twitter.com/MoWrDGCzxt
— WhoDey KnowitALL (@WhoDeyKnowitALL) December 16, 2023
The trend has been due to good fortune, but the Bengals can’t continue to rely on players like Nick Mullens to fall on his ass and throw passes directly into the lap of BJ Hill.
For the final three weeks, Cincinnati’s defense will have their work cut out for them. Week 16 finds themselves facing off against the Steelers, who will be starting Mason Rudolph at quarterback. However, the Steelers’ Week 10 matchup against the Bengals did see Pittsburgh get their most yards of offense since Week 16 of the 2018 season. Week 17 will see the Bengals traveling to Kansas City where they will face off against Patrick Mahomes. Even though the Chiefs’ signal caller hasn’t quite been himself this year, he is still Patrick Mahomes. He can still ball out with Travis Kelce at any moment while Taylor Swift cheers in the stands. Week 18 will feature a surprisingly surging Cleveland Browns offense, whose offense has found new life thanks to a veteran quarterback who came out of absolutely nowhere.
Joe Flacco is elitepic.twitter.com/EYR68GlY44
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) December 17, 2023
Flacco’s reemergence, which came completely out of left field, has been huge for a Cleveland squad who has snuck out two straight victories and is currently the #5 seed in the AFC.
In a playoff run, teams will be just as likely to put up yards, but way less likely to turn the ball over. Unless something changes, which will be tough with the injuries to DJ Reader and Cam Taylor-Britt, offenses will continue to produce yards against the Bengals. While they’ve been fortunate in the turnover department, their luck may eventually run out if they continue to allow opponents to pile on yards, especially as the competition gets stiffer.
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