The Bengals Offense Is Partying Like It’s 2005
Credit: Cara Owsley via Imagn Images
Not even a Sarah McLachlan commercial can make me want to cry as much as this years Cincinnati Bengals. As the “FINAL” appears on the TV screen, I find myself asking “Why do I put myself through this?” That lasts until about Tuesday, when I inevitably start saying, “Wait! Maybe we can make this work,” like the pathetic ex-boyfriend I am, laying down the welcome mat for some more heartbreak the following Sunday.
Of course, we’ve all seen the articles, the memes, and the headlines saying that this 1-4 Bengals team is wasting the best year of Joe Burrow’s career. He’s having an MVP-caliber season! This is the Joe Burrow we’ve been waiting on! Unfortunately, No. 9 can’t play defense and he’s getting no help from that side of the ball.
Which is a shame, because it isn’t just Burrow that’s playing great ball. The entire offense is on a tear in these first five weeks… so long as we forget Week 1 exists. Since then, they’ve scored 130 points in the last four games. That’s an average of 32.5 points a contest, which puts Burrow among the league leaders in damn near every stat. The Bengals have also found themselves, as a team, in the top five in points per game, passing yards, passing yards per game, and also in the top 10 for total yards per game.
How good is this offense? On Sunday, we saw a unit that looks very similar to the 2005 Bengals, who arguably had the best offense in franchise history. The “good old days” for the long-time fans who weren’t alive to see the Bengals of the ’80s.
The 2005 Bengals was the first time I started seeing Bengals jerseys outside of Cincinnati. Like now, most of them were No. 9, but at that time, it was Carson Palmer who was amongst the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Palmer finished first in passing TDs (32) and completion percentage (67.8%). Carson also finished in the top 5 in passing yards (3,836), completions (345), attempts (509), and QB rating (101.1).
Another parallel to today: the Bengals had arguably one of the best WR1 and WR2 combos, in Chad Johnson (before OchoCinco) and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. It seemed like at least once per possession, Palmer would just lob the ball down the field and either OchoCinco or OchoCuatro was gonna come up with it.
Johnson finished the season fifth in the NFL with 97 receptions, and Housh was 18th with 78 of his own. Johnson went on to finish the season third in receving yards (1,432) and T.J.’s 956 finished 23rd. When it came to touchdowns, Johnson finished with nine to Houshmandzadeh’s seven.
Unfortunately, we all know what happened in the Wild Card game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Palmer shredded his knee and backup Jon Kitna just couldn’t keep us in the game. Bengals fans, including myself, still believe that offense was Super Bowl-bound if Palmer’s knee stayed intact.
The reason I talk about that offense is I never, EVER, thought I’d see the day when we have anything near that machine. Sure, Andy Dalton and A.J. Green gave us some fun games here and there, and the 2021 Bengals offense — who did go to the Super Bowl — had their own magic, but they didn’t quite click on all cylinders like that 2005 team.
Sadly and surprisingly, we now have an offense that’s at that level, and arguably better, than that 11-5 squad from 2005. This 1-4 team is cooking with grease, but because of that record and their defense, they’re not getting anywhere near the recognition they deserve.
Through five games, Joey B. is on pace to throw 4,658 yards, 41 TDs, and seven interceptions with a QB rating well over 100. These numbers would surpass even Palmer’s amazing statline of that beautiful 2005 season. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins — “Uno/Cinco” if you wish — give them two absolute studs at wide receiver, as well. Chase is on the verge of damn near 1,700 yards and 17 touchdowns, while Higgins, who missed three games to a hamstring injury, is still on course for 1,031 yards and 11 touchdowns.
These numbers are absolutely insane. All due respect to Palmer, Johnson, and Houshmandzadeh, this is the best Bengals offense, and it’s not close.
As it stands, Cincinnati’s four losses have been for a combined 15 points, and people are already counting them out, and with this defense, you can see why. Let’s play the big “What If” game, though. What if the rookie holder handled the ball correctly last week, or what if there was no pass interference call against the Kansas City Chiefs? The Bengals would be sitting at 3-2 with victories over two perennial contenders. They’d be considered a Super Bowl or Bust team and their offense would be hailed as the pinnacle of the NFL.
But like they say, defense wins championships, and unless the Bengals can shore theirs up, this incredible offensive showing is at risk of being a historical footnote.
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