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For the first season in years, the Bengals have lofty expectations. An MVP capable quarterback in Joe Burrow. Skilled offensive weapons in Chase, Higgins, Hurst and Mixon. A “revamped” offensive line with the additions of Ted Karras, Alex Cappa, and La’el Collins. A defense with special playmakers on all three levels. By all means, those expectations are valid.
And yet, a couple games into the 2022 season, the Bengals have not found a way to win games against the Trubisky led Steelers and the Cooper Rush led Cowboys. So far, the Bengals toughest opponent has proved to be themselves.
Please forgive me for this next sentence.
But Joe Cool has been feelin’ the heat. In only two games, he’s been sacked 13 times. He’s been smacked on almost 13% of his dropbacks, which is second only to Justin Fields (and the Bears didn’t spend $17 million on a new offensive line.) And I’ve seen the tweets saying that Burrow is on pace to be sacked more than 100 times this season, which cannot possibly happen, considering the Bengals only allowed 55 sacks last season. But it just proves how poor the offensive line play has been. And their poor play has had effects on the entire offense so far.
The offensive line hasn’t been able to generate any kind of push to get Joe Mixon and the run game going. Pre-snap penalties have been killer, putting them behind the sticks often. Play calling has been predictable and uninspired by Zac Taylor and Joe Callahan (ever try getting the ball out quick and to your playmakers much?) And of course, Joe has been getting killed in the backfield, barely having enough time to get through his first progression if that.
I think the poor line play has taken a toll on Burrow. He seems jittery, constantly uncomfortable; seeing ghosts maybe? And on Sunday, he showed us something we hadn’t really seen from him yet - visible frustration. I’m sure it’s a combination of all the things I had mentioned earlier: poor running, poor blocking, poor execution, and poor play calling; a classic recipe for an 0-2 start.
“We’re going to have to win a different way this year…,” Burrow said following the loss to Dallas Sunday. They’ll have the opportunity to do so against the Jets next Sunday, who are just coming off a thrilling comeback win in Cleveland.
For Cincy fans, it’s not time to panic just yet. This team is too talented to come out the gate with three straight losses. But if the Jets find a way to win, or if trends stay true and the Bengals find a way to lose, hopes for this team and staff need to be adjusted mightily; maybe they’re due for a return to the land of old expectations, which is to say, none at all.
Also, this is a new thing I’m trying: blogging about the Cincinnati Bengals I guess. And I guess I’ll call it “The Hangover” since the Bengals, more often than not, make me want to drown my sorrows (in liters of soda of course.) And I'll write once a week, maybe twice a week. Hopefully the games get better results so the writing can be more fun. And if it isn't fun, don't take it up with me. Take it up with Zac Taylor. Anyways, enjoy the rest of your week. See you after the Bengals play the Jets in the Big Apple, and by Big Apple, I mean East Rutherford, New Jersey.