The Cincinnati Bengals have built their success around an offense that can score against almost anyone. With Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, they have enough firepower to turn a difficult matchup into a shootout.
The trouble is that Cincinnati’s defense keeps giving opponents a way to keep pace. Sunday’s 43-36 overtime win against the Tennessee Titans showed that again. Burrow delivered a career performance, yet the Bengals still needed overtime after allowing 440 total yards and 36 points. The Bengals must find ways to improve defensively if they want to win the AFC North and make a deep postseason run.
Why Joe Burrow’s Heroics Can Only Mask the Bengals’ Flaws for So Long
Tennessee Exposed Cincinnati’s Defensive Weaknesses
Burrow completed 38 of 48 passes for 462 yards and five touchdowns against Tennessee. He also scored the winning touchdown with a nine-yard run in overtime. However, the Titans kept finding ways to move the ball. Cam Ward threw for 304 yards and two touchdowns, while Tony Pollard rushed for 117 yards and two scores.
Those problems were clear against Tennessee. The Titans built a 13-0 lead and repeatedly found room in Cincinnati’s secondary, finishing with 440 total yards. The Bengals recovered to win, but it took 43 points from the offense to get there. That leaves little room for an off day from Burrow and his receivers. Cincinnati needs more reliable defensive stops if it wants to build a team capable of winning a championship.
Season Numbers Reveal Larger Problem
Cincinnati allows 360 total yards per game through seven contests. Opponents average 261 passing yards and 122.3 rushing yards against the defense. The Bengals also allow conversions on 47.3% of third-down attempts, ranking 29th in the league.
The early warning signs appeared before the Tennessee game. Cincinnati allowed 30 points and 430 total yards against Pittsburgh in Week 3. Earlier, Bengals’ defensive concerns identified the same problem before the team’s three-game winning streak.
Strong Pass Rush Is Not Fixing Everything
Cincinnati has recorded 23 sacks through seven games, ranking fourth in the NFL, and its 11 takeaways rank ninth. The defense can disrupt an offense and win back possession. The problem is what happens between those plays.
NFL.com’s recent analysis ranked Cincinnati 28th in limiting explosive plays and in the bottom quarter in forcing three-and-outs. Its third-ranked red-zone defense has helped contain the damage, but the Bengals cannot keep counting on stops near the end zone after allowing opponents to move downfield.
There was some progress early in the season. After the first two games, a LWOS power ranking described Cincinnati’s defense as a potential top-15 unit. The recent numbers suggest that early improvement has not developed into consistent performance.
Safety Injuries Give Cincinnati Less Room for Error
Cincinnati also entered the Tennessee game without Kyle Dugger, who was ruled out with a quadriceps injury. Jordan Battle had been limited in all three practices with a hamstring issue but still recorded 12 tackles and two pass deflections.
His effort could not prevent Tennessee from gaining 440 yards. These absences added pressure to a secondary already struggling to contain opponents. Cincinnati needs better coverage and more consistency from its available defenders.
Joe Burrow Must Also Protect Football
Burrow deserves credit for the win, but his performance against Tennessee came with costly mistakes. He threw three interceptions, all to safety Amani Hooker, and lost a fumble on a botched handoff with Chase Brown. That left Cincinnati with four turnovers.
Those mistakes matter, even when Burrow produces enough offense to win. His play keeps the Bengals competitive in almost every game, but turnovers put more pressure on a defense already struggling to make stops. Cincinnati needs cleaner possessions from its offense and more reliable defense.
The Last Word
Burrow has thrown for 2,115 yards and 20 touchdowns with six interceptions through seven games. His performance against Tennessee showed how dangerous Cincinnati can be, but the defense needs to limit explosive plays and get off the field on third down.
The 5-2 Bengals visit Atlanta on November 8, and they should not have to count on winning another shootout. Before tougher games arrive, Cincinnati needs its defense to give Burrow some room for error.
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