Bengals look for continued defensive improvement
For the Cincinnati Bengals, good news came in the form of a slightly improved defense that morphed from an outright disaster to resembling something respectable in a 24-21 loss at Baltimore.
The downside came on offense where it was apparent how much receiver A.J. Green was missed, especially when a touchdown was needed in the fourth quarter.
As a result of improved defense that was better but still not good enough and a struggle to overcome Green’s absence due to a toe injury, the Bengals are a 5-5 team heading into a Week 12 home game with the Cleveland Browns.
The defense gave up 265 rushing yards with Marvin Lewis in charge in addition to his head coaching responsibilities, a figure that is the most allowed in his tenure. It also allowed the Ravens to convert 50 percent of first downs (8 of 16) but there was more optimism about the direction of the defense.
“It was clear and evident we looked like a different defense out there,” defensive end Carlos Dunlap said. “We were getting off the field. We were getting stops when we needed to. We just didn’t finish the game like we want.”
No they didn’t, but then again it would have been hard to get any lower than the defensive showing the previous week against the New Orleans Saints, who dropped a 51-14 loss on the Bengals and resulted in Teryl Austin becoming Cincinnati’s former defensive coordinator.
“They played hard,” Lewis said. “That was important. I thought they played better and did a good job with assignments. I thought that was good and the tape will show, but I thought that was much better.”
While the film showed improvement defensively, it also showed what the offense looked like with Green missing a second straight game with a toe injury.
In two games, quarterback Andy Dalton has been adequate going 31 of 56 for 364 yards but the targets are lacking in terms of results, especially in the final minutes Sunday. Down by three and needing at least a field goal to tie with 2:45 to play, Dalton’s options were John Ross, tight end C.J. Uzomah and Cody Core.
On the potential game-winning drive, Dalton had three incompletions to all three players, who were in different roles thanks to Green being injured.
“That’s a huge part of it. With A.J. out there, I’m sure the pass coverage would have been different,” Dalton said. “He has made so many big catches over the years. If we had him, we would have given ourselves a better shot.”
It was not all bad, since Uzomah kept the drive going with a leaping 20-yard catch and earlier Ross hauled in a 22-yard TD on an underthrown ball to put Cincinnati up 21-13.
It just was not good enough for a team that once was 4-2, especially because Tyler Boyd’s impact was minimal.
Boyd is the designated next man up while the Bengals wait for Green but he caught four balls despite being targeted 11 times, including no catches on five third-down pass plays.
“We just have to find a way,” Boyd said. “It would make us a lot better. He’s the best player on our team, and his help out there relieves a lot of guys. I feel like we just need to make more plays out there.”
Green was in Baltimore and it can be viewed as a positive sign for his recovery. On Monday, ESPN reported Green was likely to return for the Cleveland game and Wednesday Lewis said Green would practice later this week and likely play this week.
As a result, the Bengals are 5-5 in conjunction with Miami, Baltimore, Indianapolis and Tennessee.
“Now it’s a race,” Lewis said. “We know where we are, and now it’s a race to the finish. And they are in the same position we are. And now we’ve got to go.”
If they don’t, they’ll be watching the postseason on television for the third straight season.
“It’s like the first game of the season,” Ross said. “We’ve got to continue to prove ourselves and go out and win that game. Win the next game. Because every game from here on out is very pivotal for where we want to be. It’s very serious how serious we take it and how hard we work to get to exactly where we want to be.”
SERIES HISTORY: 90th regular-season meeting. Bengals lead series, 50-39. Cincinnati has won the last seven meetings since a 24-3 loss on Nov. 6, 2014. During the last seven meetings, the Bengals are averaging 30.4 points while allowing nine points.
