The Bengals went into Houston to face a Texans defense that was known for its physicality, but Cincinnati came out looking like the bully.
You might call the Week 2 win “the Dexter Lawrence game,” but that name could apply to Cincinnati’s Week 1 win and potentially subsequent wins as well.
Here are five things we learned from Sunday’s victory:
This defense is as physical as any defense
In Week 1, the Bengals caused fumble after fumble by Baker Mayfield
and company.
But against the Texans, they just hounded them for the entire game in every aspect.
Keep in mind, Houston went toe-to-toe with Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills in Week 1. And the Bengals held them to zero touchdowns.
The Texans did outgain the Bengals, 374 yards to 266 yards.
But, like in Week 1, they didn’t break when it mattered, making C.J. Stroud look inaccurate thanks to 41 pressures.
Cincinnati’s average pressures per game over the last six years is 12.6, and the previous high in that span was 33. So this is a whole other level of defensive play.
The Bengals’ defense also held David Montgomery and Woody Marks to just 18 yards on 14 carries. As a result, Stroud threw 55 times, but it was to little avail.
Perhaps most impressively, through two games, the Bengals are third in passing EPA per play and 6th in run defense EPA per play.
Dexter Lawrence, it should go without saying at this point, is instant chaos on every single play, blowing up the middle of the line to the point that the rest of the defense feels empowered to make something happen. It really is an unbelievable turnaround led by an unbelievably talented nosetackle.
Ja’Marr Chase is just fine
This probably wasn’t much of a concern for most, but after a knee scare late in the offseason and a 12 yard performance in Week 1, Chase reminded the world of just how good he is.
His seven catches for 75 yards and two touchdowns don’t even begin to tell the story.
A better way to get how amazing he looked is to watch this twisting catch against Derek Stingley Jr. one more time for yourself.
Amarius Mims is already elite
That’s two straight games where the third-year right tackle has pitched a shutout, keeping the Bucs and Texans to zero pressures on over 70 pass-block snaps.
Somehow, Mims kept Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter to zero pressures on 34 pass-block snaps.
He flashed elite potential last year, but he’s completely arrived now.
We can’t get carried away with the 0-line
The line is better, yes, but a good amount of credit needs to go to Mims. He’s an absolute anchor, and we would see Joe Burrow leverage that to improvise on the right side behind his giant bodyguard.
But the rest of the line had some issues, especially Orlando Brown Jr., who may need an intervention.
Burrow was sacked five times and hit ten more. That is far from ideal, and it’s an easy recipe for another injury-shortened season.
Evan McPherson is all the way back to being Money Mac
When your kicker is so consistent from behind 50 yards that you don’t hesitate to go for three points when you’re across midfield, that’s a major asset.
He’s now four for four from 50+ yards in two games.
It’s clear that McPherson has his confidence back, which is allowing his tremendous talent to shine through just as it did in 2021.
