Ossai, Murphy Heating Up at the Right Time - and the Bills Are Next
If you’re looking for the Bengals’ defense to find its edge, you might want to start with Joseph Ossai and Myles Murphy. These two young pass rushers have quietly been building momentum in recent weeks, and on Thanksgiving night against the Ravens, they made their presence impossible to ignore.
Ossai turned in his most disruptive performance of the season, racking up two sacks and generating eight pressures. That’s not just a good night - that’s a tone-setting performance against one of the league’s most elusive quarterbacks.
And he wasn’t doing it alone. Myles Murphy added five pressures of his own and made a heads-up play by batting down a pass that ended up as an interception.
That kind of impact - pressure plus turnovers - is exactly what this Bengals defense has been missing at times this year.
With Trey Hendrickson still listed as doubtful, Cincinnati will once again need Ossai and Murphy to step into bigger roles. And the challenge only gets steeper this week with Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills coming to town.
Allen’s ability to extend plays and make throws on the move is elite, and if you give him too much time, he’ll carve you up. But if Ossai and Murphy can replicate the kind of pressure they brought against Baltimore, they can throw a wrench in the Bills’ offensive rhythm.
Another key piece of the puzzle? Slowing down James Cook.
The Bills’ back has quietly put together a monster season, already eclipsing 1,450 all-purpose yards. He’s a dual-threat weapon who can hurt you between the tackles and in the passing game.
Containing him will be critical - because if Cook gets rolling, it opens up everything else Buffalo wants to do.
Chase Brown Keeps Rolling
On the other side of the ball, Chase Brown is starting to look like one of the breakout stars of the season. With his sixth straight game of 100+ yards from scrimmage, Brown just set a new franchise record - and he’s doing it with a mix of speed, vision, and toughness that’s making life miserable for opposing defenses.
Over the last six games, Brown has been playing like a top-five back in the league. He’s not just hitting holes - he’s finishing runs, breaking tackles, and consistently turning short gains into chunk plays. And with the way Buffalo’s defense is built, he could be in for another big day.
The Bills have been lights-out against the pass this season, giving up just 168.2 yards per game through the air - the best mark in the league. But their run defense?
That’s been a different story. Buffalo ranks 30th in rushing yards allowed, surrendering nearly 149 yards per game on the ground.
That’s a clear opening for the Bengals. If they can establish Brown early and keep feeding him, it not only plays to their offensive strengths - it keeps Allen and the Bills’ offense off the field. Expect Cincinnati to lean on the ground game, especially if the weather turns cold and the game turns physical.
Bottom Line
With Hendrickson likely out, the Bengals will need their young pass rushers to step up again - and so far, Ossai and Murphy have shown they’re ready for the challenge. On offense, Chase Brown is playing with the kind of confidence and production that can carry a team down the stretch. Against a Bills squad that’s tough through the air but vulnerable on the ground, the Bengals’ path to victory might just run through the trenches - on both sides of the ball.