Cincinnati’s offseason focus has been on an improved defense, which used free agency and the draft to plug key holes, including the additions of Dexter Lawrence, Boye Mafe and Cashius Howell along the defensive line. The progress put the Bengals in contention for another deep postseason berth after three seasons of watching in January.
The key to the offense will be A) Joe Burrow staying healthy; and B) the offense picks up where it left off last season.
While some numbers question Cincinnati’s blocking, the unit was solid last season, especially downfield. With Dalton Risner back healthy and the Bengals getting decent quarterback play after blocking the Jake Browning attempt, Cincy’s blocking improved dramatically.
Left tackle Orlando Brown recently told Joe Goodberry and Jake Liscow “Locked on Bengals” podcast he believes the unit is the best pass protection team in the league.
“I really feel, and I say this with confidence, I really feel like we’ve got the best pass defense in the NFL,” Brown said. “There’s not a lot of teams that could come in and do what we do week in and week out and have the success that we’ve had, especially given the circumstances. As you know, pass protection is the hardest thing to do in the sport in my opinion. Probably other than a few other things like playing quarterback and man-to-man in the corner. … Our unit is so strong in pass protection.”