What is the Bengals’ problem?
Simply put, Cincinnati lacks the necessary physicality to contend in the AFC North.
What is the Cincinnati Bengals’ problem?
It was undoubtedly painful to lose quarterback Joe Burrow to a wrist injury that ended the season. Even worse, DJ Reader, a run-stopping nose tackle, had a ruptured quadriceps tendon.
However, it goes beyond that. One word describes the Bengals’ problems: physicality. or absence of it.
“Turnovers and physicality,” stated Mike Hilton, a slot cornerback. “You can win this division if you do those two things.”
Of the two, Cincinnati has done one. The Bengals were second in the league in causing turnovers entering their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday, with 23—15 interceptions and 8 fumble recoveries.
Reliving the Dolphins-Cowboys Thanksgiving 1993 is worthwhile.
While Cincinnati’s Jake Browning threw three interceptions and the Bengals were humiliated 34-11, the Steelers did not give up any points on the ground on Saturday.
Cincinnati is 8-2 versus the rest of the league, but the Bengals are now 0-5 in the AFC North after their defeat to the Steelers, with just a game left in the season against the Cleveland Browns. This Bengals team is just not resilient enough to contend in a division they dominated for the previous two years, as seen by their defeat to Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Cleveland.
Cincinnati’s defense is struggling to stop the run, missing tackles, and being jostled around in the trenches.After 15 games, the
The Bengals’ offensive inability to complete key plays under duress and impose their way on the Steelers on Saturday was further highlighted by their botched 4th-and-inches throw attempt.
Sam Hubbard remarked, “If we were more physical, you don’t lose those games.” It’s obvious that something has to be fixed. We clearly had a bullseye on our backs since we had won the previous two years.
It’s not as simple as it seems. Cincinnati now lacks the necessary components to compete in the AFC North, whether it is because of the coaching staff’s unwillingness to focus and develop physicality or because the players lack mental toughness and the capacity to overcome adversity.
Cincinnati still has an opportunity to regain some prestige and respect in the AFC North when it plays Cleveland in Paycor Stadium on January 7, regardless of what transpires in Kansas City this weekend. There is still time for the Bengals to demonstrate their abilities.
