Arkansas Bengal Posted November 3, 2023 Report Share Posted November 3, 2023 Since 2021, the Cincinnati Bengals own the league's best winning percentage after building a lead of any amount and any time. By Jay Morrison November 3, 2023 | 9:25 AM EDT When it came to identifying reasons for the slow start to the season for the Cincinnati Bengals offense, Joe Burrow’s calf injury was the easy answer. But the defense, which was healthy, struggled off the block, too. Head coach Zac Taylor repeatedly pointed to the fact that the offense wasn’t allowing defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s group to play with the lead. It was Week 3 before the Bengals had their first lead, and the amount of time they played from in front during the first four games was 28 minutes and 22 seconds out of a possible 240 minutes. In the three games since, the Bengals have scored on their opening drive each time and have led for 137 minutes and 16 seconds of a possible 180. Why the Cincinnati Bengals Are So Good at Protecting Leads To illustrate his point, Taylor used the 27-3 loss to the Titans and the 17-13 win against the Seahawks. “It’s the way that the whole game can shift. I look at it as the Tennessee game was no different than the Seattle game,” he said. “The only difference was the offense scored 14 points early against Seattle. That allowed the defense to weather the storm and bear up there in the second half. Offensively, we just never gave them that chance in the Tennessee game.” The Cincinnati defense is tied for fifth with 13 takeaways this season. Eight of those have come when the Bengals were ahead. Cincinnati ranks tied for 12th with 21 sacks. Twelve have happened when the team has held the lead, including 5.5 of Trey Hendrickson’s team-leading eight. “When we get a lead, our guys sense it,” Anarumo said. “It allows our guys to rush without worrying, especially against an offense like that (San Francisco’s), where the run game is so deadly, and you’re worried about all the things you have to be worried about as a D-lineman. Now you can just tee off and go. And we’ve got some pretty good rushers.” Through seven games, the Bengals have led for 165 minutes and 38 seconds out of a possible 420 minutes. That’s a little more than 40% of the time. But 57% of the sacks and 62% of the turnovers have come in that limited span. Linebacker Logan Wilson said it has as much to do with a mindset as it does math and clocks. “Lou might call different things based on what we’re in during different situations,” he said. “It’s all situational. When you have a lead on defense, there’s more of a relief factor. Obviously, you’re trying to prevent them from scoring to begin with, but when you’re down, your back’s even more against the wall.” Since the start of 2021, the Bengals have the league’s second-best winning percentage when building a lead of at least seven points in the second half. They are 20-1 (.952) in those situations, including a 16-game winning streak since the lone loss — a 34-31 road game against the Jets on Oct. 31, 2021. Only the Philadelphia Eagles are better at .964 (27-1). The Bengals’ 16-game winning streak when building a lead of at least seven points in the second half is the third longest active one in the league behind the Vikings (18) and 49ers (17). Even smaller leads have been locks for Anarumo’s defense. The Bengals are 25-1 when leading by at least three points in the second half, a .962 winning percentage that is best in the league. Dallas is next at 29-2 (.935). The same goes for early leads. The Bengals are 20-3 when leading by any amount at any point. Even with one of those losses coming a few weeks ago at Tennessee, that .870 winning percentage is best in the league. Dallas is second at 25-4 (.862) and Kansas City third at .824 (28-6). Anarumo knows why. “They never stop, our guys.” https://www.profootballnetwork.com/when-cincinnati-bengals-get-a-lead-they-turn-into-bullies-and-thieves/ When the Cincinnati Bengals Get a Lead, They Turn Into Bullies and Thieves Since 2021, the Cincinnati Bengals own the league's best winning percentage after building a lead of any amount and any time. By Jay Morrison November 3, 2023 | 9:25 AM EDT When it came to identifying reasons for the slow start to the season for the Cincinnati Bengals offense, Joe Burrow’s calf injury was the easy answer. But the defense, which was healthy, struggled off the block, too. Head coach Zac Taylor repeatedly pointed to the fact that the offense wasn’t allowing defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s group to play with the lead. It was Week 3 before the Bengals had their first lead, and the amount of time they played from in front during the first four games was 28 minutes and 22 seconds out of a possible 240 minutes. In the three games since, the Bengals have scored on their opening drive each time and have led for 137 minutes and 16 seconds of a possible 180. Why the Cincinnati Bengals Are So Good at Protecting Leads To illustrate his point, Taylor used the 27-3 loss to the Titans and the 17-13 win against the Seahawks. “It’s the way that the whole game can shift. I look at it as the Tennessee game was no different than the Seattle game,” he said. “The only difference was the offense scored 14 points early against Seattle. That allowed the defense to weather the storm and bear up there in the second half. Offensively, we just never gave them that chance in the Tennessee game.” The Cincinnati defense is tied for fifth with 13 takeaways this season. Eight of those have come when the Bengals were ahead. Cincinnati ranks tied for 12th with 21 sacks. Twelve have happened when the team has held the lead, including 5.5 of Trey Hendrickson’s team-leading eight. “When we get a lead, our guys sense it,” Anarumo said. “It allows our guys to rush without worrying, especially against an offense like that (San Francisco’s), where the run game is so deadly, and you’re worried about all the things you have to be worried about as a D-lineman. Now you can just tee off and go. And we’ve got some pretty good rushers.” Through seven games, the Bengals have led for 165 minutes and 38 seconds out of a possible 420 minutes. That’s a little more than 40% of the time. But 57% of the sacks and 62% of the turnovers have come in that limited span. Linebacker Logan Wilson said it has as much to do with a mindset as it does math and clocks. MORE: Bengals LB Logan Wilson Looks To Add Friend Josh Allen to His Victim List “Lou might call different things based on what we’re in during different situations,” he said. “It’s all situational. When you have a lead on defense, there’s more of a relief factor. Obviously, you’re trying to prevent them from scoring to begin with, but when you’re down, your back’s even more against the wall.” Since the start of 2021, the Bengals have the league’s second-best winning percentage when building a lead of at least seven points in the second half. They are 20-1 (.952) in those situations, including a 16-game winning streak since the lone loss — a 34-31 road game against the Jets on Oct. 31, 2021. Only the Philadelphia Eagles are better at .964 (27-1). The Bengals’ 16-game winning streak when building a lead of at least seven points in the second half is the third longest active one in the league behind the Vikings (18) and 49ers (17). Even smaller leads have been locks for Anarumo’s defense. The Bengals are 25-1 when leading by at least three points in the second half, a .962 winning percentage that is best in the league. Dallas is next at 29-2 (.935). The same goes for early leads. The Bengals are 20-3 when leading by any amount at any point. Even with one of those losses coming a few weeks ago at Tennessee, that .870 winning percentage is best in the league. Dallas is second at 25-4 (.862) and Kansas City third at .824 (28-6). Anarumo knows why. “They never stop, our guys.” 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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