The Cincinnati Bengals did what they needed to do on Sunday to beat the lowly Miami Dolphins. In doing so, they head into their bye week with a winning record. At 3-2, they’re technically in last place in the AFC North, but they’re very much in the thick of things.
That’s not to say things are perfect in Cincinnati, because they’re not. After the first two games showcasing a dominant defense, Al Golden’s crew has struggled over the last three weeks. The offense, despite all their star power, looks
mediocre at times.
Before we get into some overreactions heading into the bye week, here are some random thoughts on the Bengals’ Week 5 win over the Dolphins:
- Congratulations to Evan McPherson, whose 22nd consecutive made field goal established a new franchise record, surpassing the previous mark held by Shayne Graham.
- Joe Burrow completed more than 70% of his passes and threw four touchdowns, but averaged just 5.1 yards per completion. Much of his afternoon was spent dinking and dunking underneath, taking what the defense gave him rather than pushing the ball downfield. On the rare occasions he did take a shot deep, though, he reminded everyone what he’s capable of:
- Jordan Battle took plenty of heat for his performances in Weeks 3 and 4, and deservedly so. He responded with two interceptions against Miami, but what impressed me most was his tackling. Battle was much more reliable in the open field on Sunday, and this tackle may very well have saved a touchdown:
- The Bengals, largely thanks to their rebuilt defensive line, have been pretty successful at stopping the run between the tackles. When opposing running backs get to the outside, though, it’s a different story. After shutting down Houston’s rushing attack in Week 2, Cincinnati has struggled to contain the ground games of the Steelers, Jaguars, and Dolphins. It’s becoming a troubling trend.
- I know the Bengals only won by a touchdown, but the game wasn’t nearly as close as the final score suggests. Miami’s late touchdown was the very definition of garbage-time scoring. Still, I don’t love the fact that the Bengals are the only team the Dolphins have managed to score more than 13 points against this season.
Bye Week Overreactions
With the bye week upon us, here are a few overreactions based on what we’ve seen from the Bengals through the first five weeks of the season.
Samaje Perine should be RB1
Zac Taylor decided to ride the hot hand on Sunday in Miami, giving Perine 13 carries compared to Chase Brown’s 11. Perine was the more effective runner against the Dolphins, just as he was in Week 4, although neither back had much success against Jacksonville.
That doesn’t mean Brown should be relegated to the bench.
Brown has been far more involved in the passing game, hauling in 24 receptions compared to Perine’s seven. Considering the Bengals have Joe Burrow under center and operate a pass-first offense, Brown isn’t going anywhere.
Dexter Lawrence wasn’t worth the No. 10 pick
After back-to-back losses in Weeks 3 and 4, followed by a game in which the Dolphins nearly doubled their combined scoring output from the previous four weeks, it’s clear the Bengals should have used their top-10 pick on someone who could actually transform their defense.
Right?
Wrong.
Lawrence has earned the second-highest defensive grade among defensive linemen who have played at least 50% of their team’s snaps, according to PFF, with an 82.5 grade. He also ranks third among defensive tackles in quarterback hurries.
And don’t overlook the improved play of linebackers Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr. Much of their development can be attributed to Lawrence occupying blockers in front of them, allowing them to make plays they might not have made a year ago.
Lawrence isn’t the problem. He’s a big part of the solution.
Tee Higgins is WR1
Both Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins have caught 27 passes through five games, but Higgins has racked up 423 receiving yards compared to Chase’s 289.
And that doesn’t mean a damn thing.
On almost any other team in the NFL, Higgins would unquestionably be WR1. Unfortunately for him, he shares the field with the best wide receiver in football.
Chase can do things that almost no other receiver in the league can replicate. Higgins is a phenomenal player, and there’s no denying that, but Chase is on another level.
Darrin Simmons is on the hot seat
Special teams haven’t exactly been a bright spot for the Bengals this season.
Outside of Evan McPherson and the kicking game, the unit has been responsible for several costly mistakes. In Week 3, a muffed punt and a roughing-the-kicker penalty cost Cincinnati 10 points. Against Miami, Lawrence was flagged for roughing the snapper on a field goal attempt, extending a drive that ultimately ended in a Dolphins touchdown.
And that wasn’t the only special teams mistake on Sunday.
Here’s the thing, though: Simmons has been Cincinnati’s special teams coordinator since 2003 and has held the title of assistant head coach since 2020.
If there’s one thing Mike Brown and the Bengals’ front office are known for, it’s loyalty. Simmons has been with the organization for more than two decades, and despite the recent mistakes, it’s hard to imagine him going anywhere.
He’ll probably be in Cincinnati until he decides to retire.
Tanner Hudson > Erick All
Erick All returned to the Bengals after an injury that kept him off the field for much of the last two seasons.
Through the first four weeks, Cincinnati made a concerted effort to establish an offense that operated more frequently from under center. Unfortunately, the results were mixed at best.
Against Miami, the Bengals moved away from that approach, potentially signaling a shift in offensive philosophy coming out of the bye.
If that’s the case, Hudson could see his role expand at All’s expense.
That doesn’t necessarily mean Hudson is the better tight end. He’s simply more familiar with the shotgun-heavy offense the Bengals have relied on over the last two seasons, while All spent much of that time recovering from injury.
If Cincinnati continues to lean into what Burrow does best, Hudson could find himself playing a much bigger role moving forward.
What are some of your Bengals overreactions as the team heads into their bye week?
Relevant Song Lyrics?
And we’re winning (winning), winning (winning) ugly
And we’re winning (winning), winning (winning) ugly
And we’re headed for the heartbreak
Headed for the blues, yeah
