The Bengals dropped another heartbreaker in Week 14, and while the final score stung, the snap counts and player usage told a deeper story-one that reveals how Cincinnati is trying to adapt down the stretch of a tough season.
Let’s start with the tight ends, where the usage patterns weren’t just different-they were stark. Drew Sample didn’t record a single catch, and Noah Fant was targeted just once, hauling in a 15-yard reception.
But it was Mike Gesicki who emerged as a real spark in the passing game. He caught all six of his targets for 86 yards and a touchdown, making the most of every opportunity.
Only Tee Higgins (11 targets) and Ja’Marr Chase (8) saw more looks, but Gesicki matched Higgins with six receptions and trailed only him in receiving yards (Higgins had 92). That kind of efficiency-100% catch rate on six targets-stands out, especially in a game where the offense needed every bit of production it could get.
In the backfield, Chase Brown got the lion’s share of the snaps, logging 40 compared to Samaje Perine’s 22. But the output told a different story.
Brown ran the ball 12 times for just 23 yards, averaging under two yards per carry. Perine, on the other hand, made his touches count.
He only carried the ball six times but led the team with 31 rushing yards. His hard-nosed, downhill style seemed better suited to the physical nature of the game and the cold-weather conditions.
It’s not always about volume-sometimes it’s about fit, and Perine looked like the better fit in this one.
On the defensive side, the rotation along the interior line continues to evolve. For the third straight week, Kris Jenkins out-snapped TJ Slaton.
Jenkins logged 44 snaps, sandwiched between B.J. Hill’s 48 and Slaton’s 41.
That’s a notable trend, especially considering the opponent. Against a Buffalo team that thrives on a strong run game, you might’ve expected more from Slaton and even McKinnley Jackson.
But Jackson saw the field just twice this week-an eyebrow-raising number given his earlier involvement. After playing 16 snaps in Week 11 and 19 in Week 12, Jackson has logged only 11 combined snaps over the last two games.
Whether it’s a matchup decision or something else, his role has clearly diminished.
One defensive storyline that continues to build is the emergence of Jalen Davis. After being promoted to the active roster, Davis has seen his role grow significantly.
Week 14 marked his highest snap percentage of the season, and he’s now played all 121 of his defensive snaps over the past three weeks. That’s a clear sign the coaching staff is trusting him more and more, possibly carving out a permanent role for him in the secondary rotation.
While the loss itself hurts, the way the Bengals are deploying their personnel gives us insight into how they’re navigating the final stretch of the season. Players like Gesicki and Davis are stepping up, while others like Jackson are seeing their roles shift. And in a league where every snap counts-literally-these trends are worth watching closely as Cincinnati looks to finish strong.