Cincinnati Bengals - A to Z Sports

A to Z Sports - Cincinnati Bengals
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  1. 3d ago

    The Bengals Have A HUGE Test After Their Loss To Pittsburgh...

    The Cincinnati Bengals are 2-1, but their response to the loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers could tell us a lot about what this team becomes in 2026. John Sheeran explains why the Bengals have a critical test ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars — and why it goes far beyond simply trying to win the game. Cincinnati is going to lose games this season. That's inevitable in the NFL. The difference between this Bengals team and the Cincinnati teams that missed the playoffs during the previous three seasons may ultimately come down to how the team responds to those losses. The Bengals cannot allow avoidable mistakes to compound from one week to the next. That is exactly what happened against Pittsburgh. Two critical special teams mistakes helped give the Steelers 10 points, while Cincinnati's defense struggled to stop Pittsburgh's outside running game and the offense failed to finish its final opportunities. But the Bengals still had a chance to win. Now the question becomes: how does Cincinnati respond? John believes three players in particular will be critical to that response: Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen and Brian Cook. Lawrence has quickly become the Bengals' best defensive player and one of the most important leaders on the roster. He's been dominant against the run, productive as a pass rusher and vocal both on and off the field. Jonathan Allen has also provided exactly what Cincinnati hoped it would get when it added him to the defensive line. He's generating interior pressure and bringing veteran experience to a young defense. Bryan Cook was also playing well before suffering an ankle injury against Pittsburgh, and his presence gives Cincinnati another important veteran voice in the secondary. John explains why those players — along with veterans like Kyle Dugger and the rest of Cincinnati's new defensive additions — need to help make sure the Steelers loss doesn't turn into a larger problem. The Bengals' roster is not dramatically different from last year's team. The coaching staff isn't dramatically different either. So the Bengals are relying heavily on the new veteran additions to change how the team handles adversity. That challenge begins against Jacksonville. The Jaguars are playing well, Trevor Lawrence is playing some of the best football of his career and Jacksonville has weapons that can stress Cincinnati's defense. Even more importantly, the Jaguars now have a blueprint for attacking the Bengals after Pittsburgh successfully used outside runs to exploit Cincinnati's defense. This could be a high-scoring game, and Cincinnati may need to score more than the 27 points it scored against Pittsburgh. Can the Bengals respond? Can Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen and the rest of Cincinnati's veterans keep the team focused? And can the Bengals avoid allowing one frustrating loss to become a pattern? John Sheeran breaks down the biggest challenge facing Cincinnati before the Bengals take on the Jacksonville Jaguars. Subscribe to A to Z Sports Cincinnati for Bengals news, analysis, game previews, postgame reactions and everything you need throughout the 2026 NFL season. #Bengals #CincinnatiBengals #WhoDey #NFL 0:00 The Bengals are at an inflection point 0:35 Why the Bengals are going to lose games 1:02 The biggest difference this season 1:08 Andrew Whitworth's message to Cincinnati 1:44 Why Whitworth is still a Bengal 2:04 Whitworth's frustration with the Steelers loss 2:29 The Bengals cannot let mistakes snowball 3:00 The Bengals have two paths forward 3:31 This has been the Bengals' problem for years 3:53 Three players must step up 4:01 Dexter Lawrence is the Bengals' best defender 4:20 Jonathan Allen has been REALLY good 4:35 Bryan Cook's strong start 4:55 Why these veterans matter 5:22 The Bengals' new leaders have to change things 5:53 Why Lawrence, Allen and Cook are so important 6:06 Can they make Whitworth proud? 6:16 The Jaguars present a HUGE challenge 6:26 Trevor Lawrence is playing his best football 6:41 Jacksonville has the blueprint 6:50 The Bengals will need to score 7:02 How Cincinnati responds will tell us everything 7:13 The Bengals can still go VERY far 7:26 Bengals vs. Jaguars prediction Make A to Z Sports your preferred source on Google: Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For more Bengals coverage: Facebook: Twitter/X: Instagram: TikTok: #CincinnatiBengals #Bengals #BengalsFootball #WhoDey #NFL #NFLFootball

  2. 4d ago

    The Bengals Just Made A HUGE Change To Their Secondary...

    The Cincinnati Bengals' secondary is undergoing another major change ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars. With starting slot cornerback Jalen Davis now on injured reserve because of a hamstring injury, Cincinnati has to figure out how to rearrange its secondary once again. John Sheeran breaks down the Bengals' new plan at cornerback, why Dax Hill is moving back to the slot and the competition developing for the outside cornerback spot. Dax Hill is the obvious answer in the slot. Hill played the position at Michigan and spent the first half of the 2025 season playing nickel for Cincinnati. He eventually moved outside last season and finished the year looking comfortable as an outside cornerback, which led Zac Taylor to say he wouldn't be moved around during the 2026 season. Three weeks later, circumstances have changed. John explains why Hill is the only reasonable option Cincinnati has at nickel right now and why he may actually be a better slot cornerback than Jalen Davis. The matchup against Jacksonville will be a significant test. Parker Washington has been one of the NFL's most productive slot receivers through the first three weeks, with more than 100 receiving yards and two touchdowns from the slot. That means Hill won't be walking into an easy assignment. If Hill can play well against Washington and handle the high-leverage moments, John believes this could become a stepping stone toward Hill remaining in the slot even after Jalen Davis returns. But moving Hill inside creates another problem: who plays outside? That's where rookie T.J. "Bobo" Davis and fourth-year cornerback D.J. Ivey come into the picture. Bobo Davis entered the season with plenty of momentum after an excellent preseason and has already shown flashes of the talent that made Cincinnati select him in the third round. However, penalties have been an issue. Davis has been penalized in each of his first three games, creating some uncertainty about whether the Bengals are ready to give him a starting job. D.J. Ivey brings more experience and is currently listed as the starter on Cincinnati's official depth chart. John expects both players to receive first-team reps during the week, with the Bengals potentially waiting until later in the week to decide who will start against Jacksonville. The safety position is also worth monitoring. Brian Cook, Kyle Dugger and Jordan Battle are all dealing with injuries, although the situation appears more straightforward than the cornerback competition. The Bengals have already added additional safety depth to their practice squad in preparation for potential absences. So what will Cincinnati's secondary look like against Jacksonville? Will Dax Hill prove he belongs in the slot? Will Bobo Davis earn the starting job outside? Can D.J. Ivey hold him off? And could Jalen Davis' injury ultimately force the Bengals into a better secondary configuration? John Sheeran breaks down all of the latest changes to the Bengals secondary ahead of Week 4. Subscribe to A to Z Sports Cincinnati for Bengals news, analysis, injury updates, game previews, postgame reactions and everything you need throughout the 2026 NFL season. #Bengals #CincinnatiBengals #WhoDey #NFL 0:00 The Bengals secondary is a mess 0:25 Bengals secondary injury update 0:40 Jalen Davis is headed to IR 0:57 The Bengals' safety injuries 1:25 Dax Hill is moving back to the slot 2:01 Why Dax Hill is the obvious choice 2:28 Dax Hill's wild position history 3:19 Could Dax Hill be better than Jalen Davis? 3:55 Dax Hill faces a HUGE test 4:17 Parker Washington is a problem 4:59 Why this could be a great opportunity for Dax 5:35 The Bengals' secondary needs more changes 5:53 Who replaces Dax Hill outside? 6:24 Bobo Davis has a HUGE opportunity 6:56 Bobo Davis' biggest problem 7:20 Is Bobo Davis the Bengals' future starter? 7:53 D.J. Ivey enters the competition 8:33 Bobo Davis vs. D.J. Ivey 9:02 The Bengals may keep this decision quiet 9:37 Who should start outside? 9:53 Bengals safety injury update 10:35 Cincinnati prepares for safety contingencies Make A to Z Sports your preferred source on Google: Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For more Bengals coverage: Facebook: Twitter/X: Instagram: TikTok: #CincinnatiBengals #Bengals #BengalsFootball #WhoDey #NFL #NFLFootball

  3. 5d ago

    The Bengals Have Seen ENOUGH! It's Time For A Change...

    The Cincinnati Bengals have a decision to make after three weeks, and rookie EDGE Cashius Howell is making it increasingly difficult to justify keeping him on the sidelines. John Sheeran breaks down why Howell deserves a significantly larger role in the Bengals defense after another impressive performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3. Through three games, Howell has generated 11 pressures on 62 pass-rushing snaps while posting an impressive 18.6% pass-rush win rate. Meanwhile, former first-round pick Myles Murphy has struggled to produce despite receiving more opportunities. Is it time for the Bengals to change their defensive line rotation? Should Cashius Howell be playing ahead of Myles Murphy alongside Boye Mafe, Dexter Lawrence, and Jonathan Allen? Plus, Cincinnati makes a change at wide receiver after releasing Keyshawn Williams following his muffed punt against Pittsburgh, bringing Mitch Tinsley back into the fold. **In today's episode:** - Cashius Howell's impressive rookie production - Why Myles Murphy needs to step up in his contract year - The case for increasing Howell's defensive snaps - Cincinnati's ideal pass-rushing rotation - Keyshawn Williams released and Mitch Tinsley returns - What these changes mean for the Bengals moving forward SUBSCRIBE to A to Z Sports Cincinnati for Bengals news, analysis, roster updates, and daily coverage. #Bengals #CincinnatiBengals #WhoDey 0:00 The Bengals Have A Decision To Make 0:55 Keyshawn Williams Released, Mitch Tinsley Returns 2:16 Why Cashius Howell Deserves More Snaps 3:00 Howell's Film And Pass Rush Production 3:51 Howell Is Improving Against The Run 4:40 Why Are Howell's Snaps Decreasing? 5:15 The Myles Murphy Problem 6:42 Cincinnati's Ideal Defensive Line Rotation 7:23 What Happens Next For Murphy And Howell? Make A to Z Sports your preferred source on Google: Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For more Bengals coverage: Facebook: Twitter/X: Instagram: TikTok: #CincinnatiBengals #Bengals #BengalsFootball #WhoDey #NFL #NFLFootball

  4. 6d ago

    The Bengals Have 3 BIG Problems That Need To Be Fixed...

    The Cincinnati Bengals are 2-1 after a frustrating loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and while it's far too early to panic about this team, there are some legitimate concerns that need to be addressed. John Sheeran breaks down the three biggest problems facing the Bengals after three weeks of the 2026 NFL season — and explains why these aren't simply reactions to one bad game. The first concern is the secondary. Cincinnati invested heavily in its defensive line during the offseason but made relatively few changes to the secondary. Against Pittsburgh, Jalen Davis and Jordan Battle were both exposed, with each allowing a touchdown early in the game. Davis struggled with his recovery speed and had difficulty setting the edge against the run, while Battle's aggressive play style once again caused him to lose his depth in coverage. With Jalen Davis now dealing with a hamstring injury, Dax Hill could see more time in the slot, while Takeo Davis could receive more opportunities on the outside. The second concern is the Bengals' recurring pre-snap penalties. Cincinnati has now committed eight offensive pre-snap penalties over the last two games. That's simply too many for a team led by Joe Burrow. The frustrating part is that the Bengals' offensive line actually played well against Pittsburgh's defensive front. Amarius Mims, Orlando Brown Jr., Dalton Risner, Dillon Fairchild and Ted Karras all had stretches of strong play. But the Bengals continue to make drives harder than they need to be by committing unforced penalties. The third concern might be the biggest of all: Cincinnati's inability to close games on offense. Through three games, the Bengals have had eight fourth-quarter drives and none have resulted in touchdowns. When Cincinnati needs a drive to put a game away, the offense too often relies on Ja'Marr Chase or Tee Higgins to make an extraordinary play rather than consistently creating easy completions and separation. That puts enormous pressure on Joe Burrow and the offensive line. John explains why the Bengals need to find an "easy button" on offense — quick, high-percentage plays that move the chains without requiring Chase or Higgins to make a superhuman play. There are also plenty of positives. John doesn't believe the Bengals' defensive line is a major concern. Dexter Lawrence has played well, Cassius Howell continues to develop and Cincinnati should get better production from Boye Mafe, Jonathan Allen and Myles Murphy. The running game and pass protection have also been encouraging, and Joe Burrow has largely played excellent football. So should Bengals fans panic after the loss to Pittsburgh? No. But the Steelers did expose some issues that Cincinnati cannot afford to ignore. John Sheeran breaks down the three biggest concerns facing the Bengals after Week 3 and what Cincinnati needs to fix before facing the Jacksonville Jaguars. Subscribe to A to Z Sports Cincinnati for Bengals news, analysis, game reactions, player breakdowns and everything you need throughout the 2026 NFL season. #Bengals #CincinnatiBengals #WhoDey #NFL 0:00 The Bengals have REAL problems after Pittsburgh 0:32 The Bengals are 2-1 — don't panic 1:35 These aren't just Steelers problems 2:08 Concern #1: The Bengals secondary 2:43 Jalen Davis and Jordan Battle got exposed 3:13 Davis' recovery-speed problem 3:24 Jordan Battle's recurring issue 4:01 Is Jordan Battle's job in danger? 4:21 Jalen Davis' injury changes things 4:50 Concern #2: Bengals' pre-snap penalties 5:07 The Bengals have 8 pre-snap penalties 5:27 The offensive line actually played well 6:23 The Bengals can't keep making these mistakes 6:56 Why this is now a REAL problem 7:14 Concern #3: The Bengals can't close games 7:20 Zero fourth-quarter touchdowns 7:59 Pittsburgh exposed the same issue 8:22 Why the Bengals struggle to close games 8:36 Where is the Bengals' "easy button"? 9:19 Joe Burrow needs easier throws 9:45 This has happened too many times 10:02 The Bengals' pass rush is NOT a concern 10:42 The Bengals offense is actually in good shape 10:57 The WR depth is a concern 11:23 The 3 biggest Bengals concerns 11:32 Should Bengals fans panic? Make A to Z Sports your preferred source on Google: Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For more Bengals coverage: Facebook: Twitter/X: Instagram: TikTok: #CincinnatiBengals #Bengals #BengalsFootball #WhoDey #NFL #NFLFootball

  5. Sep 24

    The Bengals Have A HUGE Opportunity After This Injury...

    The Cincinnati Bengals have a new challenge on offense. Wide receiver Andrei Iosivas suffered a torn ligament in his thumb that required surgery and will miss at least the next month, leaving Cincinnati without an important piece of its offensive rotation. John Sheeran breaks down how the Bengals plan to replace Yoshi's role and why this injury could actually create opportunities for several young players on the roster. The first thing Bengals fans need to understand is that replacing Iosivas is not simply about replacing catches. Through two games, Yoshi had only three receptions for 19 yards, but his importance to the Bengals offense went far beyond his production in the box score. John explains why Iosivas' role as a receiver who creates space for Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins is so valuable. His ability to run routes correctly, occupy defenders and contribute as a blocker helps the entire Bengals offense function. So who steps up? The first name to watch is Colby Young. The rookie wide receiver out of Georgia could be the closest replacement for the role Iosivas played. John explains why Young's size, physicality and ability to clear out space for Cincinnati's stars make him a natural fit. However, Young is still a rookie, meaning the Bengals likely won't immediately put the entire workload on his shoulders. That's where Dante Myers comes in. John explains why Myers could see an increased role in traditional 11 personnel packages, especially as a slot receiver alongside Chase and Tee Higgins. After earning Joe Burrow's trust during training camp and the preseason, Myers now has a major opportunity to show why Cincinnati was excited about him. The Bengals could also lean more heavily into 12 personnel. With Mike Gesicki already playing a significant amount of his snaps from the slot, Cincinnati has flexibility to use Gesicki, Drew Sample and Eric All together while keeping the offense looking like its traditional formations. John also explains why this could create more opportunities for Ja'Marr Chase to move into the slot and for Colby Young to get more snaps on the outside. This injury is unfortunate for Iosivas, especially in a contract year, but the Bengals appear to have multiple options to adjust. Will Colby Young become a bigger part of the offense? Can Dante Myers earn more opportunities? And how will Cincinnati adjust without Yoshi? John Sheeran breaks down the Bengals' plan to replace Andrei Iosivas and the young players who could benefit from this opportunity. Subscribe to A to Z Sports Cincinnati for Bengals news, analysis, game previews, postgame reactions and everything you need throughout the 2026 NFL season. #Bengals #CincinnatiBengals #WhoDey #NFL 0:00 The Bengals lost Andrei Iosivas 0:32 Why Yoshi's injury matters 1:05 The Bengals need a committee approach 2:25 Why Yoshi was more valuable than his stats 3:20 Colby Young is the closest replacement 4:01 Why Young won't replace everything immediately 4:40 Dante Myers has a HUGE opportunity 5:28 The Bengals could use more 12 personnel 6:11 Mike Gesicki's role could expand 6:49 Ja'Marr Chase could move into the slot more 7:13 Yoshi's injury is unfortunate 7:33 Who steps up for Cincinnati? Make A to Z Sports your preferred source on Google: Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For more Bengals coverage: Facebook: Twitter/X: Instagram: TikTok: #CincinnatiBengals #Bengals #BengalsFootball #WhoDey #NFL #NFLFootball

  6. Sep 23

    The Bengals Have A HUGE Advantage Against The Steelers...

    The Cincinnati Bengals are 2-0 and heading into their first AFC North matchup of the 2026 season against the Pittsburgh Steelers. John Sheeran is joined by A to Z Sports Pittsburgh's Rob Gregson to break down exactly where the Steelers stand after two games, what has gone wrong on offense, how their defense has changed under Patrick Graham and what Cincinnati needs to do to win on the road. The Steelers' offense has struggled badly to begin the season. Rob identifies the offensive line as Pittsburgh's biggest problem, particularly the right side of the unit. The Steelers have struggled to protect Aaron Rodgers, create separation for their receivers and establish any kind of running game. Through two games, Pittsburgh has scored only 16 offensive points. That becomes an especially important problem against Cincinnati's revamped defensive line. Dexter Lawrence has transformed the middle of the Bengals defense, and Cincinnati's pass rush is coming off a dominant performance against Houston. Rob explains why putting Lawrence over the Steelers' struggling right side could create major problems for Pittsburgh. The Steelers may also need to change their offensive approach. Rob believes Pittsburgh should use more 12 personnel and get Darnell Washington on the field more often, both to help the running game and provide additional protection for Rodgers. But Pittsburgh's defense presents a much different challenge. Patrick Graham has completely changed the Steelers' defensive identity, including a dramatic shift toward zone coverage. T.J. Watt is also being moved around the defensive front instead of spending nearly every snap on the same side of the formation. That creates a fascinating matchup with Amarius Mims and Orlando Brown Jr. After Mims played extremely well against Houston and Brown struggled against Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, John and Rob discuss how Pittsburgh could try to use Watt against Cincinnati's offensive line. The Steelers' running game is another major concern. Rob says it has been essentially nonexistent through two weeks, with Pittsburgh's offensive line struggling to create any displacement or reach the second level. That could be a major problem against a Bengals defense that has already demonstrated its ability to shut down the run. Rob also identifies a potential X-factor for Pittsburgh: rookie wide receiver Jeremy Bernard. After getting increased opportunities because of Michael Pittman Jr.'s injury, Bernard showed flashes of the physicality and yards-after-catch ability that made him productive at Alabama. Can the Bengals move to 3-0? Will Pittsburgh's offense finally find a solution? Can the Steelers contain Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase? And how will Cincinnati handle T.J. Watt? John Sheeran and Rob Gregson break down the Bengals-Steelers matchup from both sides ahead of Cincinnati's first AFC North game of the season. Subscribe to A to Z Sports Cincinnati for Bengals news, game previews, postgame reactions, player analysis and everything you need throughout the 2026 NFL season. #Bengals #CincinnatiBengals #Steelers #WhoDey #NFL 0:00 Bengals are trying to make history at 3-0 0:52 Bengals vs Steelers Week 3 preview 1:12 Rob Gregson joins the show 2:04 The Steelers' BIGGEST problem 3:16 Why Pittsburgh needs more 12 personnel 4:27 The Steelers have to change something 5:11 Dexter Lawrence could DOMINATE 5:27 Where the Steelers offensive line is struggling 6:27 Could Pittsburgh change its offensive line? 7:36 Patrick Graham has transformed the Steelers defense 8:20 The Steelers defense is actually GOOD 9:28 How T.J. Watt is being used differently 10:53 Will T.J. Watt attack Orlando Brown? 12:15 The Steelers' run game is a DISASTER 13:46 Pittsburgh's biggest offensive concern 14:08 The Steelers' X-factor 14:48 Jeremy Bernard could be a problem 16:09 How Rob sees Bengals-Steelers playing out 17:10 Why this could be a low-scoring game 17:47 Final thoughts Make A to Z Sports your preferred source on Google: Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For more Bengals coverage: Facebook: Twitter/X: Instagram: TikTok: #CincinnatiBengals #Bengals #BengalsFootball #WhoDey #NFL #NFLFootball

  7. Sep 22

    The Bengals Are 2-0, But I Still Have Some BIG Questions...

    The Cincinnati Bengals are 2-0, and the first two weeks of the 2026 NFL season have given us plenty of reasons to feel good about this team — but there are still some major questions that need to be answered. John Sheeran breaks down two things he already feels confident about and two things he still doesn't know about the Bengals after their first two games. The first answer is Amarius Mims. After emerging as one of the NFL's best right tackles late last season, Mims has continued to dominate in 2026. Through roughly 73 dropback situations, Mims has allowed only one pressure and has a pass-blocking efficiency above 99%, putting him among the league leaders at his position. John explains why Mims has already established himself as a cornerstone piece of the Bengals roster and why the conversation around him has finally shifted away from his injury history and toward his performance on the field. The second answer is D.J. Turner. After an impressive 2025 season and a strong training camp, Turner has continued to play at a high level through two games. He's been strong in man coverage, has recorded multiple pass breakups and has quietly established himself as one of the most important players in Cincinnati's secondary. But there are also two major questions. The first is linebacker Barry Carter. Carter has shown plenty of promise against the run, but his struggles in coverage were exposed against Houston. John explains why Cincinnati needs to determine whether Carter can improve enough in coverage to remain on the field in critical situations. The second question involves the Bengals' receiver depth. With Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins commanding defensive attention, Cincinnati needs its other receivers to contribute. John examines the roles of Andre Joseph, Colby Young, Dante Meyers and Yoshi, and whether some of the younger receivers could eventually earn more opportunities. The Bengals are 2-0, but the season is still very young. John also explains why it's too early to make sweeping conclusions about Cincinnati or the rest of the NFL after only two weeks. What do we know about the Bengals? What are we still waiting to find out? And which players could dramatically change Cincinnati's ceiling over the next few months? John Sheeran breaks down the two biggest answers and two biggest questions surrounding the Bengals after their 2-0 start. Subscribe to A to Z Sports Cincinnati for Bengals news, analysis, game reactions, player breakdowns, previews and everything you need throughout the 2026 NFL season. #Bengals #CincinnatiBengals #WhoDey #NFL 0:00 The Bengals are 2-0, but I still have questions 0:42 Why 2-0 tells us a lot about Cincinnati 0:52 The Bengals' defense has raised their ceiling 1:25 Two things I know and two things I don't 2:02 Amarius Mims has ARRIVED 2:28 Mims is playing like an All-Pro 3:10 Mims is already a Bengals cornerstone 3:35 D.J. Turner is becoming a star 4:15 Turner is one of the NFL's best cornerbacks 4:47 The Bengals still have questions at linebacker 5:12 Barry Carter's coverage problems 5:35 Could Demetrius Knight take Carter's role? 6:20 The Bengals' receiver depth is a BIG question 7:00 Is Yoshi losing his role? 7:50 Don't overreact to the Bengals' 2-0 start 8:18 What will we know three months from now? Make A to Z Sports your preferred source on Google: Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For more Bengals coverage: Facebook: Twitter/X: Instagram: TikTok: #CincinnatiBengals #Bengals #BengalsFootball #WhoDey #NFL #NFLFootball

  8. Sep 21

    The Bengals Just Built A TERRIFYING Defensive Line...

    The Cincinnati Bengals may have built one of the deepest defensive lines in the NFL. Dexter Lawrence is the star of the group, but the biggest development through the first two games of the 2026 season is just how many different pass rushers Cincinnati can throw at opposing quarterbacks. Against the Houston Texans, the Bengals generated an incredible 41 pressures. Even more impressive, five different Bengals pass rushers recorded at least five pressures in the same game: Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe, Cashius Howell and Cedric Johnson. John Sheeran breaks down why that depth could make Cincinnati's defensive line one of the biggest strengths on the entire roster. The Bengals entered the offseason with a clear objective: build their pass rush from the inside out and create enough depth to attack opposing offenses in waves. Cincinnati added Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen, but that wasn't going to be enough by itself. The Bengals needed their young players to develop. They needed Myles Murphy to continue progressing. They needed Boye Mafe to become a consistent contributor. They needed to hit on Cashius Howell in the draft. And they needed players like Cedric Johnson to prove they could handle meaningful snaps. Two games into the season, the early results are extremely encouraging. Cashius Howell has already established himself as Cincinnati's third-best edge rusher behind Mafe and Murphy, according to John's evaluation. Howell has shown the ability to string together pass-rush moves, generate pressure and win in multiple ways. Cedric Johnson may be the biggest surprise. Johnson produced four pressures, a sack and three hurries on 11 true pass-rush opportunities against Houston, winning 45.5% of those pass-rushing opportunities. If that level of production continues from the Bengals' fourth defensive end, Cincinnati's defensive line becomes much more dangerous. Then there is Dexter Lawrence. Lawrence has been the star of the unit, but his impact extends beyond his own statistics. The attention he commands from opposing offensive lines creates one-on-one opportunities for teammates like T.J. Slaton, who has taken advantage of those opportunities. That is the bigger story. The Bengals don't need every pass rusher to be a superstar. They need enough players capable of winning their individual matchups that opposing offenses can't simply focus on one or two players. That's what Cincinnati appears to have built. The Bengals' defense also showed that it doesn't need turnovers to survive. Houston couldn't run the football, converted only two of 13 third downs and stayed out of the end zone for the entire game. Now Cincinnati gets to continue developing this defensive line with B.J. Hill working his way back from injury and Shamar Stewart gradually increasing his role. Could this defensive line become the foundation of the Bengals' 2026 season? Is Cashius Howell already proving to be one of Cincinnati's biggest draft hits? And just how good can this pass rush become if everyone continues developing? John Sheeran breaks down why the Bengals' defensive line is much deeper — and potentially much more dangerous — than most people realize. Subscribe to A to Z Sports Cincinnati for Bengals news, analysis, game reactions, player breakdowns and everything you need throughout the 2026 NFL season. #Bengals #CincinnatiBengals #WhoDey #NFL 0:00 The Bengals' defensive line just changed everything 0:37 Cincinnati's stars showed up against Houston 1:13 The pass rush suddenly came ALIVE 1:58 Five Bengals had 5+ pressures 2:25 41 pressures is absolutely insane 2:59 The numbers behind Cincinnati's pass rush 3:16 Cashius Howell is becoming a HUGE piece 4:12 Howell's pass-rush moves are impressive 4:57 Cedric Johnson shocked everyone 5:49 Cedric Johnson's incredible pressure numbers 6:26 Shamar Stewart adds another weapon 6:48 Dexter Lawrence is making everyone around him better 7:29 The Bengals' second defensive line is dangerous 8:11 This was the plan all along 8:32 The Bengals can attack quarterbacks in WAVES 8:59 Dexter Lawrence is only part of the story Make A to Z Sports your preferred source on Google: Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For more Bengals coverage: Facebook: Twitter/X: Instagram: TikTok: #CincinnatiBengals #Bengals #BengalsFootball #WhoDey #NFL #NFLFootball

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