The Bengals came up short in a 39-34 shootout loss to the Bills on Sunday, and it was the kind of game that leaves fans shaking their heads - not because Cincinnati didn’t fight, but because they were right there until two late turnovers flipped the script.
Joe Burrow, who had been sharp for most of the afternoon, made two costly mistakes in the fourth quarter. Both turnovers turned into touchdowns for Josh Allen and the Bills, and that was the difference.
It’s a tough pill to swallow, because without Burrow, this game probably isn’t even close. He kept the Bengals in it with his arm and poise, but the margin for error in December football is razor-thin - and Buffalo made them pay.
Still, even in a loss like this, there are bright spots worth highlighting. One of the most encouraging developments for Cincinnati over the past two weeks has been the resurgence of left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. After a rocky start to the season, Brown has quietly put together his best stretch of pass protection all year - and it couldn’t come at a better time.
Last week, Brown posted a 91.5 pass-blocking grade, and he followed it up with a 90.5 this week, per Pro Football Focus. That’s elite territory, and more importantly, it’s a sign that he's finding his rhythm down the stretch. For a player who looked like he might’ve lost a step earlier in the year, this is a significant turnaround.
To put it in perspective: in the first 11 games of the season, Brown allowed 33 pressures - an average of three per game - and had given up at least one pressure in every outing. But over the last two weeks?
Zero. Not a single pressure allowed.
That’s the kind of performance you expect from a franchise left tackle, especially one with Brown’s pedigree.
This surge comes at an interesting time, too. Brown is heading into the final year of his contract next season, and the Bengals have a decision to make.
Do they extend him and lock down the left side of the line for the next few years? Or do they start thinking about the future and look to the draft for a potential successor?
Brown turns 30 in May, and while that’s not old by offensive line standards, it’s a factor that could influence the team’s long-term plans.
For now, though, the Bengals will take the upswing in form. With the offense still showing flashes of explosiveness and the left tackle spot stabilizing, there’s reason to believe this unit can still make some noise.
But if they’re going to turn things around and make a late-season push, they’ll need to clean up the mistakes - especially in crunch time. Because as Sunday proved, even the smallest slip can swing a game - and a season.