Four weeks into the 2014 NFL season, the Cincinnati Bengals appeared well-positioned to compete with the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers for the top spot in the AFC. Their undefeated record, earned on the back of strong defensive play and renewed offensive production, made for a case as good as any team's.
Bengals’ season at crossroads following 3 straight winless weeks
After opening the season with three straight wins, the Bengals have stumbled to a 3-2-1 record, yielding their division lead in the process.
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That was before the Bengals were routed in New England, played to a tie against Carolina and were shut out in Indianapolis. Now, Cincinnati faces the expected questions that follow a winless three-week span that saw the team outscored 107 to 54.
The latest loss was perhaps the toughest to take. The Bengals stumbled badly against a Colts running game headed by the much-maligned Trent Richardson. Through his first six games, Richardson averaged merely 3.2 yards an attempt. After a single afternoon against the Cincinnati defense, in which he ran for 77 yards on 14 carries, that average is up to 3.5. Meanwhile, Ahmad Bradshaw took advantage of the matchup to score his sixth receiving touchdown of the year. The Colts' offensive line allowed just six hits on the quarterback, allowing Andrew Luck to go off for 344 yards and two touchdowns.
Following the Bengals' Week 7 loss to Indianapolis, veteran cornerback Terence Newman spoke of what the team needed to do to get back to its winning ways, via the team website:
“(We’re) always talking about guys making plays. You just have to let the plays come to you. The plays will come. You just have to be accountable. If you’re supposed to be in a gap, be in a gap. If you’re supposed to have outside leverage on a coverage, be on outside leverage. Get back to the basics.”
Mental errors are just one of the issues causing Cincinnati's sudden dropoff. Pro Bowl weakside linebacker Vontaze Burfict missed most of Sunday's game with a cervical strain while middle linebacker Rey Maualuga has been sidelined with a hamstring injury and isn't expect to return for a couple of weeks.
Cincinnati’s injuries -- as well as the offseason departure of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who’s now the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings -- have caught up with the team on the field. After holding opponents to 352.7 yards and 11 points per game in their first three weeks, the Bengals have since allowed an average of 480.7 yards and 35.7 points per game. Their rushing defense, which was fifth-best in the NFL last season, is No. 30 so far this year. Hit the hardest, though, has been pass defense, which has enjoyed little success against a parade of star quarterbacks including Tom Brady, Cam Newton and the aforementioned Luck.
Reading between the lines, the frustration from the field is beginning to spill over into the Bengals' locker room. According to linebacker Jayson DiManche, the defense has work to do:
“The communication can always better. That will come with practice and a little bit more time in the games. Not the communication just with the linebackers, but with everybody on the defense just in general.”
Yet some on the team remain optimistic. "We've got a good enough of core guys, good veterans. We won't let it fall apart," said defensive end Robert Geathers. At 3-2-1, the Bengals have hardly been eliminated from playoff contention. If the team strings together a few wins, including a victory over the division-leading Baltimore Ravens next week, Cincinnati can move back into the playoff hunt.
Though the Bengals defeated Baltimore on the road to open up the season, doing so again is no small challenge. The Ravens have blown out three of their last four opponents and are playing the most complete football of any team in the AFC North. Still, given the hole the Bengals have dug themselves in, an upset may be the only way out.
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