Know Your Enemy continues with the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals were 9-8 after a slow start under HC Zac Taylor. Dan Pitcher is the OC but Taylor calls the plays leading the Bengals to 6th best offense at 27.8 PPG. The defense really struggled and added a new DC in Al Golden. Bengals were 25th allowing 25.5 PPG. Bengals were 3-5 at home and 6-3 on the road. They will be a tough opponent again despite a down year for them in 2024.
Offense
Joe Burrow. Super stud. 108.5 QB rating with 4,918 yards 70.5% completion 43 TDs and 9 interceptions. Jamarr Chase best WR in football with 1,708 yards and 17 TDs. Tee Higgins is a good number 2 WR with 911 yards and 10 TDs in only 12 games. Mike Gesicki solid TE with 665 yards but only 2 TDs. Andrei Isovas is a 6th round pick from 2023 needing to step up into the slot. Drew Sample and Noah Fant are the backup TEs. Jermain Burton, Isiah Williams and Charlie Jones are the backup WRs.
Bengals offensive line is good with Orland Brown a LT, 2024 1st pick Amarius Mims is at right tackle. Ted Karras is the vet center, Lucas Patrick was added at RG and rookie 3rd round pick Dylan Fairchild is the right guard.
Chase Brown is the lead back after 990 yards, 4.3 YPC and 8 TDs in 2024. Samaje Perine was added from the Chiefs and 6th round rookie Tahj Brooks is the 3rd back.
Bengals have a borderline top 5 offense again assuming Burrow and Chase stay healthy.
Defense
Bengals defense runs through Trey Hendrickson but he is in a contract dispute. Shemar Stewart is a 1st round DE, Joseph Ossai is DE opposite Hendrickson as well. 1st round pick from 2023 Myles Murphy backs up Hendrickson. BJ Hill is a solid DT and TJ Slaton was added from the Packers to play NT. Kris Jenkins is a 2024 2nd round pick at DT. Good front 4 once Hendrickson plays and gets paid properly.
2nd round pick Demetrius Knight takes ovet at will LB for Germaine Pratt and Logan Wilson is the MIKE LB. Oren Burks and 4th rounder Barrett Carter are the backups.
DJ Turner, Dax Hill, Cam Taylor Britt are solid young corners that are gaining experience. 3rd round pick from 2023 Jordan Battle and veteran Geno Stone are the safeties. The secondary lacks depth so they need to stay healthy for success.
The Bengals defense should be improved with some health and new NT/DE added to help Hendrickson. Most likely still an average defense but the offense will help them out with long drives.
Schedule
Bengals host Detroit in Week 5 and Chicago in Week 9. Cincinnati travels to Minnesota in Week 3 and Green Bay in Week 6. This is a sneaky tough game but should be shootouts against the entire NFC North.