Jordan Battle didn’t just talk up a tell in Malik Willis’ delivery - he and the Bengals’ secondary backed it up fast.
Battle pointed out ahead of Cincinnati’s Week 5 meeting with Miami that Willis gives himself away by slightly tapping the ball just before he releases it, a little detail that can help defenders jump routes. That kind of quote can age badly in a hurry, but Battle made sure it didn’t.
He picked off Willis twice in the first half, and the Dolphins quarterback was already in a hole long before the break. Willis threw two interceptions before completing his second pass of the game, and Cincinnati’s defense looked like a unit that knew exactly what was coming.
Willis finished the first half 5-of-12 for 60 yards with those two picks. Most of his completions and yards came on a last-second drive at the end of the half that didn’t produce any points, so even that stretch didn’t really change the feel of how the Bengals were controlling the game.
That’s what stands out here: this isn’t the Cincinnati defense fans grew used to seeing over the last couple of seasons. The Bengals entered the game ranked 13th in the NFL in points allowed, and they got there against a schedule that included the Steelers, Jaguars, and Baker Mayfield-led Buccaneers. Compared with the units that ranked 30th and 25th in points allowed over the previous two years, this is a major step forward.
The biggest reason for that jump is the Dexter Lawrence signing, which has given the defensive line a real difference-maker. But the secondary deserves its share of credit too, especially a young group that’s starting to settle in.
Battle, DJ Turner, and free agent addition Bryan Cook are beginning to mesh, and it’s showing. Cincinnati has spent years using mid-round draft capital on defensive backs, and now some of those picks are turning into actual playmakers.
Miami isn’t exactly an offensive juggernaut, but Bengals defenses in the Joe Burrow era have had a habit of making fringe starters look comfortable. Battle hasn’t been perfect this season, but this outing felt like another sign that he can still turn things around.
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Bengals Defense Is Forcing A Trade Deadline Question They Usually Avoid
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A recent PFF report added fuel to that discussion by connecting the Bengals to potential defensive upgrades, the kind of veteran support that could help at linebacker and in the secondary. It is a reminder that the front office may have to weigh a rare in-season move if the current group leaves enough doubt over the next few weeks, even if this is not the sort of deadline lane Cincinnati usually prefers to drive in. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Week 5 Passing Order Just Got A Lot Trickier
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Dohnte Meyers, meanwhile, is the tougher sell now that the Cincinnati passing game is back closer to full strength. Miamis coverage profile makes wide receiver production harder to come by, and Meyers outlook takes a hit with Chase and Higgins both active, leaving his role more vulnerable than it was when the Bengals were shuffling through earlier weeks. [Read more 🡒]