It’s hard to find many consolations after a losing streak that has grown to be as severe as the Bengals’ this season.On Sunday, Cincinnati lost 26-20 against the New England Patriots, making the team’s eighth total loss throughout the season, and fourth consecutive loss since mid-October.However, there was at least one notable area of improvement that became apparent on Sunday. This came after the Bengals’ defense recorded their second lowest-scoring game this season in points that they allowed against New England. While noteworthy enough against any team, this was especially notable that it came against one of the NFL’s best offenses in the Patriots.Among other defensive highlights throughout the game, safety Geno Stone recorded a pick-six, and the defense as a whole successfully delivered on a critical third down stop at the one yard line that prevented New England from scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter.While it still marked a game that allowed more points to be scored against the Bengals than the league’s best defenses typically allow, it at least marked an improvement for a team that has been no stranger to seeing its opponents score over 35 points in the past few weeks. Because of this, Cincinnati has to date allowed more points to be scored against them than any other team in the NFL, standing at a total of 360 points this season after the conclusion of Sunday’s game, which is an average of 32.7 points per game.Instead, the Bengals’ allowed only 26 points, their second-best record in any game they’ve played in this season.The only time that the Bengals had fewer points scored against them this fall came against none other than Joe Flacco and the offensive line of the Cleveland Browns. This was back during the NFL’s opening weekend, after Cincinnati narrowly bested Cleveland 17-16 in a bitter AFC North rivalry thriller that came down to the game’s final minute.Now, with the NFL entering Week 13, it appears that the 3-8 Bengals could be headed for one of their worst records in years. While not exclusively due to Cincinnati’s defense, the team’s inability to make stops on game-determinative plays has been a issue that has been repeatedly highlighted by head coach Zac Taylor in press conferences as an area that the team needs to improve upon. Because of this, since the acquisition of Flacco onto the Bengals’ roster, Cincinnati has been in the unusual position of being able to be part of some of the league’s highest-scoring offensive shootouts this season, while still falling flat more often than not.However, despite this potential glimmer of hope for the defense, there are signs that the team’s offense could now be headed for more trouble. This season, navigating around Burrow’s injury has largely defined all other aspects of the team’s offense, with the saga appearing to now be nearing its end with the star quarterback’s imminent return to the field. But after star wide receiver Tee Higgins suffered a concussion during the fourth quarter of the Bengals-Patriots game, it appears likely that the Bengals’ offensive injury woes are set to persist. With the regular season now beginning to enter its home stretch, the future appears to be more uncertain than ever for the Bengals, with fan morale showing signs of having sunk to some of its lowest depths in years. Despite Cincinnati’s laundry list of challenges, the fact that the Bengals were able to remain competitive against the league-best Patriots is a positive sign of improvement for the team. Now, whether it persists to translate into more upcoming wins for the team is what remains yet to be seen.
CINCINNATI —
It’s hard to find many consolations after a losing streak that has grown to be as severe as the Bengals’ this season.
On Sunday, Cincinnati lost 26-20 against the New England Patriots, making the team’s eighth total loss throughout the season, and fourth consecutive loss since mid-October.
However, there was at least one notable area of improvement that became apparent on Sunday. This came after the Bengals’ defense recorded their second lowest-scoring game this season in points that they allowed against New England. While noteworthy enough against any team, this was especially notable that it came against one of the NFL’s best offenses in the Patriots.
Among other defensive highlights throughout the game, safety Geno Stone recorded a pick-six, and the defense as a whole successfully delivered on a critical third down stop at the one yard line that prevented New England from scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
While it still marked a game that allowed more points to be scored against the Bengals than the league’s best defenses typically allow, it at least marked an improvement for a team that has been no stranger to seeing its opponents score over 35 points in the past few weeks. Because of this, Cincinnati has to date allowed more points to be scored against them than any other team in the NFL, standing at a total of 360 points this season after the conclusion of Sunday’s game, which is an average of 32.7 points per game.
Instead, the Bengals’ allowed only 26 points, their second-best record in any game they’ve played in this season.
The only time that the Bengals had fewer points scored against them this fall came against none other than Joe Flacco and the offensive line of the Cleveland Browns. This was back during the NFL’s opening weekend, after Cincinnati narrowly bested Cleveland 17-16 in a bitter AFC North rivalry thriller that came down to the game’s final minute.
Now, with the NFL entering Week 13, it appears that the 3-8 Bengals could be headed for one of their worst records in years. While not exclusively due to Cincinnati’s defense, the team’s inability to make stops on game-determinative plays has been a issue that has been repeatedly highlighted by head coach Zac Taylor in press conferences as an area that the team needs to improve upon. Because of this, since the acquisition of Flacco onto the Bengals’ roster, Cincinnati has been in the unusual position of being able to be part of some of the league’s highest-scoring offensive shootouts this season, while still falling flat more often than not.
However, despite this potential glimmer of hope for the defense, there are signs that the team’s offense could now be headed for more trouble. This season, navigating around Burrow’s injury has largely defined all other aspects of the team’s offense, with the saga appearing to now be nearing its end with the star quarterback’s imminent return to the field. But after star wide receiver Tee Higgins suffered a concussion during the fourth quarter of the Bengals-Patriots game, it appears likely that the Bengals’ offensive injury woes are set to persist.
With the regular season now beginning to enter its home stretch, the future appears to be more uncertain than ever for the Bengals, with fan morale showing signs of having sunk to some of its lowest depths in years. Despite Cincinnati’s laundry list of challenges, the fact that the Bengals were able to remain competitive against the league-best Patriots is a positive sign of improvement for the team.
Now, whether it persists to translate into more upcoming wins for the team is what remains yet to be seen.