Bengals Season in Jeopardy After Poor Week 8 Performance
Picture by: The Athletic
As the season’s halfway point approaches this weekend, the Cincinnati Bengals are in a very interesting position. After a horrific game against the Cleveland Browns, where productivity, injuries, and depth were prominent issues. Let’s break this down.
First, the Bengal’s productivity on the field on Monday night was all over the place. The offensive line consistently failed to let Joe Burrow be comfortable in the pocket. Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins both had 3-receptions each, receiving a touchdown, while Joe Mixon led the team with 7-receptions. Most of those 7-receptions came on check-downs that did not lead to much production on offensive possessions. The Bengals struggled to get anything going downfield until the 4th quarter. It will be interesting to see the Bengals’ play-calling choices while Ja’Marr Chase remains out.
With the bye week coming up after this week, this will serve as a necessary break and recovery time for Bengal’s players. The second half of the season will bring their most significant challenges of the year. At this current time, the players that are out for an extended period are Ja’Marr Chase (Hip), Chidobe Awuzie (Torn ACL), and Dj Reader (knee, could return soon). All these players are on the IR, and most will probably not play against the Carolina Panthers. The most significant blow to their defense against the Browns was Chidobe Awuzie when he tore his ACL. With Awuzie being out for the remainder of the season, the Bengal’s increasing depth issue continues to worsen.
In several spots on the Bengals, depth is a big issue for them. All preseason and into the regular season, many have debated whether the team should add another receiver to add depth or, god forbid, step in if one of the big three goes down. Going into week 8, the Bengal’s number one receiver is out for almost a month. Outside Higgins and Boyd, the Bengals do not have reliable receivers to step up and keep Joe Burrow’s options open. In other areas, the interior defensive line has held its own, mostly in the absence of Dj Reader. Still, they won’t be able to forever. Perhaps that is worse at the defensive back position than the wide receiver’s depth issues. Though he was not listed previously, Eli Apple was also out this past week, and it’s currently unknown if he will be ready for the Panthers on Sunday. Awuzie was their number one cornerback; with him out, this leaves Tre Flowers, Cam Talyor-Britt, Mike Hilton, and Jalen Davis to patrol the secondary.
Picture courtesy of cincyjungle.com
Bengal fans may have been disappointed to see the team not make any moves at the trade deadline. With hopes to prove last season was not a one-hit wonder, it was surprising the team did not make any moves to help themselves while they nursed the other injured players on their rosters. Going forward, it will be interesting to see how this team comes out of their Week 10 bye. The schedule going forward includes teams like the Chiefs, Bills, Ravens, and Buccaneers.
The Bengals look to head into their bye with a week 9 win over the Carolina Panthers.
