Cincy Jungle
What I thought was going to happen on Sunday didn’t happen. It didn’t even come close, actually.
And I couldn’t be happier about it.
The Bengals came in riding a three-game losing streak, and even though Joe Flacco and the offense found a little rhythm in the second half against the Packers, what were the odds he’d keep it going against the Steelers’ defense? Slim to none — or so I thought.
I’m not often happily wrong, but I am this time.
After the Packers game, I said that if the Bengals could stack two halves the way they played the final two quarters in Green Bay, there wouldn’t be many teams they couldn’t beat. I just didn’t think they’d actually pull it off. I mean, it’s Cincinnati. How often do things really work out here?
I’m still worried about the defense. Without Trey Hendrickson, old man Aaron Rodgers sat in the pocket and extended plays like he was 15 years younger. When a defense lets a quarterback get that comfortable, he’s going to find somebody open.
Defensive coordinator Al Golden needs to figure out how to generate pressure without relying solely on Hendrickson. First-round rookie Shemar Stewart recorded just one hurry against the Steelers and posted a 7.1% win rate, compared to Joseph Ossai’s 14.8%. Myles Murphy, another former first-rounder, wasn’t much better at 8.7%. For context, Hendrickson’s win rate this season sits at 22.6%.
If Flacco and the offense can keep scoring 30 points per game, though, the defense won’t constantly be playing on a short field or with their hands tied behind their backs. There aren’t many teams left on the schedule they can’t hang with if the offense keeps humming.
Next up: the winless Jets come to Cincinnati. Aaron Glenn still hasn’t said who will start at quarterback — Justin Fields, who was benched in Week 7, or veteran Tyrod Taylor. Fields is younger and more athletic, but personally, I’m more concerned about Taylor.
There are only about 96 quarterbacks employed in the NFL at any given time—give or take—, counting practice squads. Taylor has been among that top group since 2011. He’s got experience, poise, and a history of keeping teams competitive. If I’m the Bengals, I’d rather see Fields.
After that, the Bears come to town. They’re better than the Jets, but still a team Cincinnati should be able to handle. If the Bengals take care of business these next two weeks, they’ll head into the bye with a winning record — a sentence I didn’t think I’d be typing after Week 6.
So yeah, I’m saying there’s a chance…
