All or Nothing: Bengals Defense Has Ability to Lead Cincinnati Past Kansas City

Cincinnati is hoping to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Author:
Elise Jesse
Publish date:
Dec 29, 2023 8:30 AM EST

In this story:

The Bengals have a lot riding on the line this Sunday in Kansas City.

If they lose to the Chiefs, their playoff chances drop below 10%. When Joe Burrow went down in Week 11, the team was hoping to make a run, despite being 5-4.

“People were doubting us before Joe Burrow went down,” Jonah Williams told All Bengals. “He went down and they doubled down I guess but we certainly had games where we proved that we can win games without Joe and against good teams and that’s what we needed to do this week and I do think we play better when our backs are against the wall. I think that one of the strengths of this team is our culture and our belief in each other regardless of what the outside noise is so this is a week where we are really going to need that."

Jake Browning has stepped in and won three out of five games. He struggled in the two losses, both coming against Pittsburgh, including a three interception performance in a 34-11 loss to the Steelers last week.

“It brought us back down to Earth a little bit,” Sam Hubbard told All Bengals. “We were 3-0 and we got hit with some adversity like you always do in this league and the good thing is we still have an opportunity, we still have a chance. We have this game in front of us and we are not out of the fight so we really have to lock in this week and I think that what we went through on Saturday brought us together and we are going to give us our best shot.”

Now standing at 0-5 in the AFC North, their path to the playoffs isn't completely in their hands, but they have a good chance of making it if they win the next two games.

Even with Burrow nursing an injury, you can still spot him on the sidelines with a headset. His right arm remains in a sling. The face of the franchise continues to travel with the team and help in any way he can, despite being out for the season.

“He and Jake have a good relationship,” Williams said. “It’s almost kind of like a role reversal because usually Jake is the one telling Joe what he’s seeing from the sidelines and it's going the other way. It's always good to see your leader showing up and clocking in with us.”

Browning will need all of the help he can get against the Chiefs defense that might be the best unit of the Patrick Mahomes era. Kansas City is giving up just 5.5 yards per attempt, which is the third-best in the NFL.

With his range of motion coming back and his ability to practice at least in a limited capacity, Ja’Marr Chase could play on Sunday. If he is able to suit up and back up his words, it'll give Browning and the Bengals offense a major boost.

If Browning struggles against a tough Chiefs defense, the Bengals have the ability to lean on their own defense because it certainly has the talent, coaching and capability to win the game for Cincinnati.

Part of that has to do with Kansas City's struggles on offense.

Patrick Mahomes has thrown an interception in four-straight games and has a career-high 15 interceptions on the season. While Mahomes is a special talent under center, the Chiefs offense has hit more rough patches than usual with Matt Nagy taking over for Eric Bieniemy, who because Washington's offensive coordinator last offseason.

While Mahomes hasn't been as accurate as he typically is, his receivers haven’t helped him in the same capacity this season. The Chiefs lead the NFL in a stat nobody wants to claim: They've dropped 26 passes this season.

Right now Cincinnati has 15 interceptions, which is already two more than all of last year's total (13).

So why do they seem to be on the hot seat?

For starters, they rank below average in pass (27th) and run (28th) defense. The secondary has allowed Nick Mullens and Mason Rudolph to throw for 250 yards or more in each of the past two weeks.

Getting cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt back on the field will help. He's missed the past five games with quad and ankle injuries. Taylor-Britt is tied for fifth in the league with four interceptions. His presence will be another added wrinkle that Nagy will have to iron out.

Lack of consistency has plagued Cincinnati’s defense all year. While there are just two games left, a consistent defense will be a huge factor if the Bengals are going to make the playoffs for a third-straight year.

“This week if we don’t win this game nothing else matters, " Hubbard said. “The focus is on having a great day today and having a great day tomorrow and this week is all we have so it's what we are focused on.”

With Kansas City’s offensive line giving up four sacks and 10 quarterback hits to the Raiders last week, Trey Hendrickson aims to add to his team-record 16 sacks. He can wreck a game, but Hubbard pointed to a collective effort being the biggest key to bringing down a quarterback like Mahomes and surviving the long plays if necessary.

“More so just about rush discipline,” Hubbard said. “When you’re rushing a guy like that it’s not a one man show it’s a collective effort of having great rush lanes and at the end of the day just being relentless because it can be a ten second play, it can be a long play where you’ve got to find him and track him down and staying alive. You never know what you’re going to get.”

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