New-Look Offense with Joe Flacco
The Bengals quarterback situation this season has been turbulent. Cincy began the season 2-0 with their franchise signal caller Joe Burrow under center before he was placed on Injured Reserve in Week 3 with a foot injury.
Jake Browning took over for Burrow and went 0-3 as a starter, prompting the Bengals to trade for veteran passer Joe Flacco from the Browns. Flacco took over as the starter in Week 6 and the early returns were positive.
With Joe Cool under center, the Bengals are 1-1. Flacco has thrown for 281 yards per game, 5 touchdowns and no interceptions, including last Thursday night when he threw for 342 yards, 3 touchdowns and no picks in a win, 33-31, over the Steelers.
With Flacco, the Bengals offense has been able to muster a version of the explosive passing attack they traditionally have with Burrow.
Last Thursday, the Bengals scored their most points (33) and posted their highest yardage total this season (470). All-Pro WR Ja'Marr Chase and WR Tee Higgins were targeted 33 times and combined for 257 yards and 2 touchdowns.
On the ground versus the Steelers, RB Chase Brown had 11 carries for 108 yards and as a team Cincinnati rushed for 142 yards. Prior to Flacco, the Bengals ranked last in rush yards and attempts.
The Bengals may be 3-4 and losers of 4 of their last 5, but with the arrival of Flacco, Cincy looks like a new team trying to keep pace in the race for the postseason.
Defense Looking for an Identity
As for the Bengals defense, the unit has struggled mightily the last two seasons, surrendering 27 points per game in their last 24 games. And the struggles have stemmed from Cincy's inability to pressure the QB.
Last Thursday, QB Aaron Rodgers, who ranks third-to-last in the NFL in passer rating against pressure this year according to Pro Football Focus, threw for 249 yards and 4 touchdowns and was pressured on 7 of 35 drop backs. Those failures to slow Rodgers compounded with their failure to stop the run, as they allowed 7.4 yards per carry on 20 attempts.
This season, the Bengals have the 8th lowest pressure rate in the NFL (16.9%) and have posted just 11 sacks. As a result, they are 30th in passing yards per game allowed and 31st in passing TDs allowed.
Lone bright spots for the Bengals on defense this season have been pass rusher Trey Hendrickson and S Jordan Battle. Hendrickson, a Pro Bowl edge, has 4 sacks, 8 QB hits and 3 tackles for loss in 6 games. Battle has 3 interceptions, 3 passes defended, a team-leading 50 tackles and came up with a pick in Week 7, wrestling a pass away from Pro Bowl WR D.K. Metcalf.
Cincy will look to break the trend of poor defensive performances against the Green & White.
