The Bengals’ Defense Is Finally Holding Up Its End Of the Bargain
Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
Personally, it never feels good to say “A win is a win.” As a Bengals fan, I am accustomed to watching Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase breaking off big play after big play. In the early part of the season, the Bengals got exactly that.
JOE BURROW TO CHASE FOR THE 41 YARD TOUCHDOWN 🔥 #WHODEY pic.twitter.com/qR5QndPbL4
— Cincinnati 💔 (@CincyProblems) September 24, 2024
However, over the last couple weeks, Bengals fans have had to adopt the “A win is a win” mantra after low-scoring victories over the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns. In Weeks 6 and 7, the Bengals scored exactly as many points in those two games as they did in a shootout against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5 (38). The latter of the two victories was the textbook low-scoring defensive battle that defines a sizable portion of AFC North matchups. The victory against the Browns was the first time that anyone on Cincinnati’s active roster won a game in Cleveland as a member of the Bengals.
The Bengals’ last two weeks have been a stark contrast from the explosive offense that originally put them on the map, which is a bit disorienting. But wins and losses are the ultimate determining factor for where teams and players stand. After all, Patrick Mahomes is the odds-on favorite to win the MVP, despite the fact he’s the league leader in interceptions (eight), 23rd in passer rating (82.5), tied for 21st in touchdowns (six), and 16th in passing yards (1,389).
The obvious reason that he’s the MVP favorite is that Mahomes has yet to lose a game in 2024, and that’s thanks in large part to the Chiefs’ defense, which has allowed the fourth fewest points in the entire NFL (104 through six weeks).
After a historically bad defensive start, the Bengals’ defense has taken a massive leap.
The Bengals defense over the last 3 weeks has morphed back into a semi-Lou Anarumo type of unit.
They've only allowed a score on 26% of offensive drives (5th best in the NFL) while generating 66 QB pressures (2nd most in the NFL).
— Andrew Russell (@Andrew_Russell7) October 21, 2024
After injuries caused the defensive line to be curb-stomped by every opponent that they came across through Week 5 or so, it finally came to form as BJ Hill and Sheldon Rankins came back into the lineup. The defense allowed the Bengals to stay afloat against the Giants and Browns, combining for six sacks and three interceptions in those two games. In each week, they held their opponent to below 20 points. The last time that happened was back when they gave up 16 points to the New England Patriots in Week 1.
Zac Taylor was quick to credit his defense for stepping up amidst offensive struggles. “I thought our defense gave us our chance,” Taylor said after Sunday’s victory over Cleveland. “Obviously, the kickoff return team set the tone right from the get-go, which was great to get that lead. Then the defense really fought them off until that last drive and obviously [gave] up some points. But they gave us a chance to get sorted out on offense a little bit and find the two drives where we could get points on the board.”
Even with Burrow and Chase being the (I’m just gonna take a whack at the eventual number) $90 million duo, the Bengals must be okay with their dynamic tandem not being the story of every game. The fanbase has to be okay with their defense doing the majority of heavy lifting sometimes, particularly in critical divisional matchups against teams like Cleveland or the Pittsburgh Steelers, who each boast a strong defense and a pedestrian, run-first offense. That’s the recipe to a low-scoring affair.
Now that the Bengals are infinitely more equipped on the defensive front, those tasks have become exponentially easier. “For the first five weeks, I’m pretty sure everybody’s idea was ‘this defense can’t get it together,’” Mike Hilton said. “We’ve been playing well the last two weeks. I like the direction we’re headed, but we still gotta get better.”
“(I’m) very blessed to rush with an elite group of guys,” Trey Hendrickson said. “Sam Hubbard, B.J. Hill, Sheldon Rankins, even Joseph Ossai and Myles Murphy. And the back end, you can’t say enough about the coverage we had back there. It’s rush and coverage together. Really blessed to have another two-sack game. To build on, there’s a lot we need to correct as a defense moving forward.”
In Burrow’s two best games of the season (Week 3 vs. the Washington Commanders and Week 5 vs. Baltimore), the defense lost the games for the team. Burrow was explosive and showed the elite ability that made the Bengals use a first-overall pick on him, but the depleted defensive line made it much easier for opposing offenses to go hog-wild.
By contrast, despite offensive struggles over the last two weeks, Cincinnati’s defense held its own, and Burrow did just enough to enable the Bengals to win. They will have to continue this trend, as they’re facing a slate of games against strong offenses (the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 8, the Ravens again in Week 10, and the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14). If they do so, they have a much better chance to get back into contention, and your uncle who has “Offense wins games, Defense wins championships” tattooed on his forehead will have never been happier.
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