The Cincinnati Bengals are 2-0 for the second straight season.
However the outlook about Zac Taylor's squad is a complete 180 degree turn from last year.
An upright Joe Burrow and a strong defense have a lot to do with that.
Burrow suffered a turf toe injury in last season's Week 2 win over Jacksonville and missed nine games. Cincinnati lost eight of nine, including two where the offense put up at least 30 points, only to see the defense give up late
scores in the final minute.
Even though Burrow is dealing with some back pain, this time he has a defense to help pick up the slack.
Sunday's 20-6 win at Houston marked the first time since Week 3 of 2022 against the New York Jets that the Bengals kept a team out of the end zone.
With Cincinnati snapping the 65-game streak, the Bills now take over the top spot at 47 games and counting in which they have allowed a TD.
“We feel like, on paper, we have a great opportunity. Training camp was really good. But until you actually go play the games against real teams that we think are really good teams, we gotta go prove it,” Taylor said.
“There are four AFC teams right now that are 2-0. We’re one of them. Proud of our guys for not being perfect but being 2-0. And we’ll continue to grow and iron out a lot of the flaws that we have and I think our team has a lot of confidence to be able to go do that right now.”
Al Golden's defense generated four sacks and 27 pressures on 62 drop-backs despite having the lowest blitz rate in any of Sunday's games (13.3%). Five Bengals had at least four with Boye Mafe's seven tying a career high.
Dexter Lawrence — the Bengals' biggest acquisition during the offseason — had four QB pressures and three tackles in the run game, including stopping David Montgomery for a 1-yard loss on fourth-and-1 at the Bengals 18.
According to the NFL's Next Gen Stats, the Texans averaged only 1.0 yard on 12 carries in the run game when Lawrence was on the field. It was 8.0 yards on six rush attempts when he was off.
“I think they have a mindset of what they want to be and what their brand is, and I’m going to let it play out,” Golden said about his unit to reporters on Monday. “I think there’s unit cohesion there in terms of their pre-snap communication and the awareness of formations and backfield sets and things that we have practiced. So again, we’re so early in the season in terms of me identifying what I see, but I think those are some things that I think would describe what we’re doing right now.”
Ja'Marr Chase highlight grabs. The All-Pro wide receiver had one of the best catches of the season when he hauled in a 32-yard pass from Burrow to put the Bengals up 7-0 late in the second quarter. Chase, who had seven receptions for 75 yards, was able to turn around and make a toe-tapping catch in front of the right pylon in the end zone while displaying excellent body control. The catch had a 25.2% completion probability, the fifth-most improbable TD throw by Burrow to Chase in the six seasons they have played together in the NFL.
Pass defense against tight ends. Houston's Dalton Schultz had 12 receptions for 140 yards, both career highs. The Bengals allowed the most receptions (116) receiving yards (1,444 yards) and touchdowns (16) to opposing tight ends last season. It doesn't get any easier next Sunday with Pittsburgh's Pat Freiermuth waiting in the wings.
Running back Chase Brown averaged 5.0 yards on runs up the middle (nine carries, 45 yards). He finished with 20 carries for 80 yards.
Offensive right tackle Orlando Brown allowed three sacks and four quarterback pressures when matched up against Texans' pass rushers Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter.
Taylor said Monday that he has not decided if Burrow (back) will be a limited participant during Wednesday's practice.
14 — Games by Chase with multiple receiving touchdowns, a franchise record. Chase previously shared the mark with Carl Pickens and Chad Johnson at 13. Since Chase entered the league in 2021, only Davante Adams has more (15).
The Bengals face the Steelers next Sunday. The AFC North rivals have split the season series the past two years.
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