The Bengals walked into their bye at 3-2, a record that leaves plenty of room for “what if.” They were a few plays from being 5-0, and a few different breaks from staring at 1-4. That kind of spread says a lot about how tight these first five games have been.
The biggest name in the conversation is Joe Burrow, and the numbers make a strong case. He has gone 135-of-189 for 1,361 yards, 11 touchdowns, three interceptions and a 104.4 passer rating.
His 71.4 completion percentage leads the NFL. He’s done it while the Bengals kept losing targets around him: Colbie Young on the first play in Pittsburgh, Ja’Marr Chase early against Jacksonville, and Tee Higgins later in that same game.
In Miami, Burrow spread the ball around for four touchdowns to Mike Gesicki, Samaje Perine, Tanner Hudson and Chase. That’s an MVP spreading the wealth.
Higgins deserves his spot in the discussion too. He has 27 catches for a team-best 423 yards, averaging 15.7 yards per grab. With Chase sidelined or limited, Higgins has been the receiver forcing defenses to stay honest deep.
Chase still belongs in the mix as well. His debut was quiet, and the concussion against the Jaguars cut into his night, but he has still delivered impact plays. Through five games, he has four receiving touchdowns and remains central to what Cincinnati does on offense.
On the other side of the ball, Boye Mafe has made his case after signing the biggest free-agent deal of the offseason. He has three sacks, five tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He has also been one of the league leaders in pressures, and in Miami he tipped the pass that turned into Battle’s first interception.
Dexter Lawrence II has also been a major factor. As the Bengals’ biggest free-agent acquisition, figuratively and literally, he’s helped reshape a defense that had drawn plenty of criticism. He has three sacks and nine tackles, five of them for loss, and he’s done the dirty work inside by eating up space for everyone else around him.
In Other News...
Bengals Suddenly Have A Huge AFC North Chance In Baltimore
A tight Browns win over Baltimore in Week 6 has suddenly made the AFC North look a lot more open, and that matters plenty in Cincinnati. With Cleveland and Baltimore now sitting with two losses apiece, the division has tightened up just as the Bengals come out of their bye week and turn their attention to the Ravens. For a team trying to climb back into the mix, the timing could hardly be better.
Baltimore has still looked dangerous at times, but the cracks are hard to ignore, especially along an offensive line that has been under pressure. Cincinnati now gets a front-row seat to the race when it faces the Ravens next, and a win there would do more than just help in the standings. It would give the Bengals a real chance to reshape the division picture before the season moves deeper into the fall. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Face A Secondary Decision Fans Will Be Watching Closely
With the Bengals dealing with injuries at cornerback, any hint of help for the secondary is going to draw attention, and Riq Woolen is the latest name to surface in that conversation. The Philadelphia cornerback has been mentioned in trade discussions, and while nothing suggests the Eagles are actively pushing him out, his profile makes him easy to imagine as a fit for a defense that could use more depth and stability on the back end.
Woolen would bring plenty of appeal if Cincinnati decided to explore the market further. He is a 27-year-old Pro Bowl corner with the size and physical tools teams covet, but there are practical questions around whether the Bengals could make a move work and whether Philadelphia would be willing to part with him at all. For now, it is the kind of secondary storyline that can linger around a team until the injury situation forces a real decision. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Bye Week Debate Starts With Who Has Carried This Offense
Through five weeks, the Bengals have found enough offense to sit 10th in the league in points per game, even with a ground attack that has struggled to get much traction at 3.6 yards per carry. The real engine has been the passing game, with Joe Burrow setting the tone and getting help from Tee Higgins, Ja'Marr Chase and tight end Mike Gesicki as Cincinnati has leaned on the aerial attack to stay productive.
The bye week now turns into a bigger conversation about who has actually carried this offense and why the pass protection has held up well enough for Burrow to keep operating at a high level. Amarius Mims has been a quiet part of that stability, drawing attention for his work on the edge and giving the Bengals one more sign that, even when the run game stalls, the infrastructure around Burrow has been strong enough to keep the offense moving. [Read more 🡒]