Bengals Stock Report: It’s time to believe after Bengals’ two big wins
Prior to the start of last season, former Bengals tight end CJ Uzomah posed the question “Why not us?”
Despite coming off five combined wins in the two prior seasons, that question signified the Bengals’ belief that they could compete for a championship. Bengals fans and the organization rallied around that phrase. Signs were hung at the football facility and T-shirts were made. But Joe Burrow hated the phrase.
“I’m tired of the underdog narrative,” he said. “We are a really, really good team. We are here to make some noise.”
Fast forward to this year, Bengals Executive Elizabeth Blackburn penned a letter to Bengals fans to begin the December playoff push with a simple message: “They gotta play US!” Look how far we’ve come in a year. The whole Bengals organization believes—heck, they know—that they “should be in the conversation for the best of the best,” as Blackburn stated. With two huge wins over division leaders, the Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs, the past two weeks, the Bengals have proven that they belong squarely in the Super Bowl conversation.
Stock Up:
The Offensive Line. Never had a fanbase obsessed over an offensive line more than Bengals fans this past offseason, and for good reason. In 2021, our franchise cornerstone, Joe Burrow, was sacked 70 times—the third highest total in NFL history. The Bengals organization addressed the offensive line aggressively in the offseason through free agency and the draft, adding four new starters up front. This season got off to an inauspicious start with the Bengals surrendering 13 sacks in back-to-back losses to begin the season.
But offensive line units need time to gel, and this Bengals unit is now solidifying into form. The display against the Titans was Exhibit A of how far this offensive line has progressed. In last year’s playoff win against the Titans, Burrow was sacked nine times. Against the same Titans pass rush this year, he was sacked just once. Burrow has more time to throw now, and the running game has also taken off. Joe Burrow, the man they protect, says, “They’re playing as good as anybody in the league.”
The Defensive Line. On the opposite side of the trenches, the big guys up front are also producing big for the Bengals.
Case in point: Stopping Derrick Henry. At 6’3’ and 247 pounds, Henry of the Tennessee Titans is the most imposing running back on the planet. A wrecking ball in cleats, he’s been among the league leaders in rushing since he entered the league. His stat line against Cincinnati: 17 carries for only 38 yards and a season low 2.2 yards a carry.
DJ Reader was in the middle of the Bengals brick wall that refused to move. Coming back from an injury, Reader’s presence has been felt whether he’s plugging up the gaps in the interior, driving guys backwards into the backfield or batting down passes. His counterpart, BJ Hill, remains a force. The bookends of Sam Hubbard and Trey Hendrickson continue to produce results and demonstrate the type of effort and intensity that would make “Charlie Hustle” proud. When you are winning battles on both sides of the line of scrimmage, you are generally winning football games.
Samaje Perine. Perine has been incredible in Joe Mixon’s absence. He’s accounted for 330 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns since stepping into Mixon’s starting role three games ago. Moreso than his production, it’s the attitude with which he plays. Perine runs with aggression and refuses to go down easy, always gaining positive yardage and ensuring the defender feels his effort. Against the Titans, Perine set the tone on the first play of the game by bullying the Titan tackler to the ground with a fierce stiff arm to the grill. It was an Angry Run, worthy of Good Morning Football’s weekly “Angry Run” scepter award.
Tee Higgins. Higgins has left no doubt that he’s a No. 1 wide receiver in this league. With Ja’Marr Chase out, Higgins has been on a tear. Against the Titans, he scored the game’s go-ahead touchdown. Against the Chiefs the following week, he caught a pass while draped by a defender, shook off that defender, pried through the grasp of a subsequent defender and reached out with all of his 6’4” frame to cross the goal line for another TD. With the Bengals needing one more first down to close out the game, Burrow went to Higgins on third down and 11 to secure the win.
Stock Down:
Justin Reid’s scouting report. Chiefs safety Justin Reid had this to say prior to the Bengals game: “They have 88, Higbee? No, it’s not Higbee; he’s with the Rams … what’s his name? It is Higgins. Higbee and Higgins. He’s a very talented receiver too, more of a finesse type of guy. Not the best blocker. I’m going to lock him down, straight up.”
Ja’Marr Chase took exception to his comments, calling Reid out on Twitter: “Let’s put some money on it big time.” After Higgins scored his touchdown, Chase found Reid and pantomimed tossing dollar bills in his face as, if to say, your bill is due. It came with an unsportsmanlike penalty for Chase but I’m sure Reid is now more acquainted with Higgins and the rest of the Bengals receiving corps.
The Bengals-Chiefs Rivalry. What rivalry? It’s been a little one-sided lately. The Chiefs are 0-3 against the Bengals in 2022, including a loss in last year’s AFC Championship Game. Before last Sunday, the Chiefs had won 26 straight games in November and December. Then the Chiefs came into the Jungle. In all three games, the Bengals trailed and rallied to win. Patrick Mahomes is considered by many to be the best quarterback in the game. He’s 0-3 against Joe Burrow. Burrow is the only quarterback to face Mahomes multiple times and be undefeated in head-to-head matchups, including the playoffs. After Mahomes failed to convert a third down on their final drive and had to settle for an eventually botched field goal attempt, Mahomes uncharacteristically threw his helmet in anger on the sideline. His inability to beat this team and their quarterback seems to be taking a mental toll.
There are new signs that now hang in the Bengals locker room. It’s the last thing the Bengals players see as they exit their locker room doors. The signs say, “They Gotta Play US!” This team believes. We should all believe, too. Who-Dey?!
Jon Bunch is an avid life-long Bengals fanatic. Raised in the 740. West Pointer, Army and Iraq War veteran. Passionate evangelist of the Who-Dey spirit. @WhoDeyBunch
