Bengals Defense Struggles but Shows Promising Signs in 2023

The Cincinnati Bengals defense had a challenging 2023 season, finishing 31st in the NFL with an average of 374.6 yards allowed per game. Coach Lou Anarumo faced a daunting task in the offseason to bring the defense back to its past glory that helped it succeed in previous postseasons. Despite adding players like Geno Stone and Sheldon Rankins, the departure of DJ Reader raised concerns about replacing his run-stopping ability.

However, there were some positive developments for the defense as well. Trey Hendrickson, Logan Wilson, and Cam Taylor-Britt all returned from injury and will play crucial roles in improving the team’s defensive performance. Sports Illustrated recently ranked the Bengals’ defensive trio – consisting of their best edge rusher, linebacker, and cornerback – at just 25th in the league. But despite this ranking, Hendrickson’s decision to stay with the team was a significant development given his productivity since joining Cincinnati in 2021. Wilson and Taylor-Britt are also key playmakers who can make an impact on the field.

One area where the Bengals defense showed improvement last season was in preventing touchdowns within the red zone. They allowed an average of just 22.6 points per game, which was a significant improvement from their previous season when they ranked 21st in NFL red zone defense. Although this may not be enough to completely fix their defense issues, it could serve as a motivating factor for them to continue improving this season and prevent opponents from scoring too many touchdowns.

Overall, while the Bengals defense struggled last season, there are still some promising signs for their future success on that side of the ball if they can continue to improve on their weaknesses and build on their strengths.