The Cincinnati Bengals are sitting at 3-2 after grinding out a 31-24 road victory against the hapless Miami Dolphins on October 11, marking their best start through five games since their 2021 Super Bowl run. Sounds good on paper, right? Well, if you thought this team was a true Super Bowl contender with a healthy Joe Burrow and a revamped defense, you’re gonna be bummed because right now, they’re just “OK,” maybe even “wild card-team OK,” and that’s a long way from where they need to be.
Burrow Said “This Is the Year,” and “OK” Ain’t It
Remember that press conference on August 20? Joe Burrow dropped the hammer with his “championship-or-bust” message, saying, “This is the year. I’m tired of saying next year, next year, next year. This is it. Your life is too short to keep pushing things down the road.” That set the bar, man, and “OK” just doesn’t clear it. We’re talking about a team that needs to be stacking up against the AFC’s real heavyweights, like Buffalo, Kansas City, Baltimore, and Jacksonville. They’re not there yet, and a win over the winless, “full rebuilding mode” Dolphins, the absolute worst team in the league, isn’t exactly a confidence booster.
Defense and Special Teams Are Flashing Red Lights
Here’s the gut check: this Bengals defense gave up a staggering 217 rushing yards to a Dolphins squad that was averaging a measly 104 yards on the ground before this game. Seriously? That’s a huge problem. Especially when their next opponent, Baltimore, is one of the top five rushing teams in the league, alongside Kansas City and Buffalo. If they’re letting the Dolphins run all over them, what’s going to happen when they face the true contenders?
And don’t even get me started on special teams. Dohnte Meyers fielding a kickoff late in the game near the sideline, losing his balance, and stepping out of bounds at their own 4-yard line? Luckily, they were up 28-18, so no harm done this time. But this comes after a muffed punt and a roughing penalty on the punter cost them big in that September 27 loss to Pittsburgh. Self-inflicted special teams mistakes were supposed to be cleaned up, but they’re still popping up, and against a good team, that absolutely kills you.
One Glimmer of Hope
It’s not all doom and gloom, though. There was one genuinely positive takeaway from the Miami game. The Bengals actually ran the ball! They put up 119 rushing yards on a season-high 31 attempts. That’s a huge improvement from the mere 23 yards they got on the ground in the October 4 loss to Jacksonville. If they can build on that and actually commit to the run, it could start to transform an offense that’s been way too pass-heavy.
The Bengals are on bye this week, but they’re back in action on October 25, heading straight into a tough road test against Baltimore. This isn’t just another game; it’s a chance to show if they can fix these glaring issues, especially the defense against the run, and finally start playing like the “Super Bowl contender” Joe Burrow promised. The clock is ticking, and “OK” just won’t cut it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply