Since the Cincinnati Bengalsdrafted quarterback Joe Burrow in 2020, they’ve had one of the better passing attacks in the NFL.
One could argue the Bengals had the best trio of wide receivers in the NFL for three years when Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd played together from 2021-23.
There’s never been any questions about how good the Bengals can be in the air. The issues the Bengals have faced on offense over the last few years have mostly come from their inability to run the ball consistently.
This year, the Bengals believe it can be a strength of the offense.
“This is about as grown man of a team as I’ve ever been a part of.” A must-listen
to interview from #Bengals center Ted Karras pic.twitter.com/iNomYt1roO
— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) August 1, 2026
“I think we really have a great sense of what our running identity wants to be,” Bengals center Ted Karras said. “We have good continuity (with) the offensive line. And you better bring your best every day against this defensive line because this is about as grown man of a team as I’ve ever been a part of. It’s very exciting.”
The Bengals have never ranked higher than No. 23 in the league in rushing offense, and that year they went to the Super Bowl (2021). Cincinnati ranked No. 31 (89.8 yards per game) in 2023 and No. 30 (92.6) in 2024.
Following another disappointing season running the ball, Bengals coach Zac Taylor moved on from former offensive line coach and run game coordinator Frank Pollack and hired Scott Peters at the position.
Peters brought new schematic ideas and new techniques in the run game, and the Bengals saw improvement in 2025 as the season went on. Cincinnati ranked No. 29 (93.6) in rushing offense last year.
The goal in Cincinnati is to build off the improvement the offense saw in the run game last season. Karras elaborated on what success in the run game will look like this season.“Winning reach blocks, staying square and Chase Brown finding a lane to use his speed,” he said.
Cincinnati made a concerted effort to improve the defensive line in the offseason, and the Bengals’ offensive line is reaping the benefits of it. Going up against defensive tackles Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen have made practice more intense.
Karras said the biggest difference in practice he’s noticed is the “level of stress” he feels at the line of scrimmage.
The Bengals begin padded practice on Aug. 3 and the battles along the offensive and defensive lines will continue to ramp up.
Karras noted that Lawrence beats him at least once in practice but understands it’s the best way for him to be at his best when the season begins.
“You have to be ready to go every day,” Karras said. “A little bit stressful August for me, but at least I get to pass it off to our opponents’ center come September.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ted Karras says Bengals have ‘great sense’ of what run game will be
