An upright Joe Burrow and a strong defense have a lot to do with that.
asserted
Burrow → have → that
Burrow suffered a turf toe injury in last season’s Week 2 win over Jacksonville and missed nine games.
asserted
Burrow → suffer → games
Cincinnati lost eight of nine, including two where the offense put up at least 30 points, only to see the defense give up late scores in the final minute.
asserted
defense → lose → minute
Even though Burrow is dealing with some back pain, this time he has a defense to help pick up the slack.
asserted
he → deal → slack
Sunday’s 20-6 win at Houston marked the first time since Week 3 of 2022 against the New York Jets that the Bengals kept a team out of the end zone.
asserted
Bengals → mark → zone
With Cincinnati snapping the 65-game streak, the Bills now take over the top spot at 47 games and counting in which they have allowed a TD.
asserted
they → snap → TD
“We feel like, on paper, we have a great opportunity.
asserted
we → feel → opportunity
But until you actually go play the games against real teams that we think are really good teams, we gotta go prove it,” Taylor said.
asserted
Taylor → go → it
“There are four AFC teams right now that are 2-0.
asserted
that → be → ?
We’re one of them.
asserted
We → ’re → them
And we’ll continue to grow and iron out a lot of the flaws that we have and I think our team has a lot of confidence to be able to go do that right now.”
asserted
team → continue → that
Al Golden’s defense generated four sacks and 27 pressures on 62 drop-backs despite having the lowest blitz rate in any of Sunday’s games (13.3%).
asserted
defense → generate → games
Five Bengals had at least four with Boye Mafe’s seven tying a career high.
asserted
seven → have → high
Dexter Lawrence — the Bengals’ biggest acquisition during the offseason — had four QB pressures and three tackles in the run game, including stopping David Montgomery for a 1-yard loss on fourth-and-1 at the Bengals 18.
asserted
Lawrence → have → Bengals
According to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, the Texans averaged only 1.0 yard on 12 carries in the run game when Lawrence was on the field.
uncertain
Lawrence → accord → field
“I think they have a mindset of what they want to be and what their brand is, and I’m going to let it play out,” Golden said about his unit to reporters on Monday.
asserted
Golden → think → Monday
“I think there’s unit cohesion there in terms of their pre-snap communication and the awareness of formations and backfield sets and things that we have practiced.
asserted
we → think → that
So again, we’re so early in the season in terms of me identifying what I see, but I think those are some things that I think would describe what we’re doing right now.
asserted
we → ’re → what
What’s working
Ja’Marr Chase highlight grabs.
asserted
working → work → ?
The All-Pro wide receiver had one of the best catches of the season when he hauled in a 32-yard pass from Burrow to put the Bengals up 7-0 late in the second quarter.
asserted
he → have → quarter
Chase, who had seven receptions for 75 yards, was able to turn around and make a toe-tapping catch in front of the right pylon in the end zone while displaying excellent body control.
asserted
who → have → control
The catch had a 25.2% completion probability, the fifth-most improbable TD throw by Burrow to Chase in the six seasons they have played together in the NFL.
asserted
they → have → NFL
What needs help
Pass defense against tight ends.
asserted
needs → need → ends
Houston’s Dalton Schultz had 12 receptions for 140 yards, both career highs.
asserted
Schultz → have → yards
The Bengals allowed the most receptions (116) receiving yards (1,444 yards) and touchdowns (16) to opposing tight ends last season.
asserted
Bengals → allow → ends
It doesn’t get any easier next Sunday with Pittsburgh’s Pat Freiermuth waiting in the wings.
asserted
Freiermuth → get → wings
Running back Chase Brown averaged 5.0 yards on runs up the middle (nine carries, 45 yards).
asserted
Brown → average → middle
He finished with 20 carries for 80 yards.
asserted
He → finish → yards
Offensive right tackle Orlando Brown allowed three sacks and four quarterback pressures when matched up against Texans’ pass rushers Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter.
asserted
Brown → allow → rushers
Taylor said Monday that he has not decided if Burrow (back) will be a limited participant during Wednesday’s practice.
Key number
14 — Games by Chase with multiple receiving touchdowns, a franchise record.
asserted
Burrow → say → touchdowns
Chase previously shared the mark with Carl Pickens and Chad Johnson at 13.
asserted
Chase → share → 13
Since Chase entered the league in 2021, only Davante Adams has more (15).
asserted
Adams → enter → more
Up next
The Bengals face the Steelers next Sunday.
asserted
Bengals → face → ?
The AFC North rivals have split the season series the past two years.
asserted
rivals → split → series
The Aporia
