Death, taxes and the Cincinnati Bengals getting off to a slow start only to pick up steam in the fall are the only three certainties in the world. The Bengals got off to a rough 1-3 start as quarterback Joe Burrow was working through a nagging calf injury.
But, just as in years past, that slow start is a thing of the past. The Bengals have won four games in a row, pushing their record to 5-3 and putting themselves right back into the playoff picture in the AFC.
With Burrow looking healthier than he has all season, the Bengals offense is getting back on track. Tee Higgins has begun to look better as well, shaking off some early rust and an injury of his own as that unit is starting to look more like the explosive group many expected them to be coming into 2023.
What has been a defining statistic for the team in this turnaround? In the opinion of Ben Baby of ESPN, it has been getting off to a better start. During their winning streak, the Bengals have put up points early and rode that momentum the rest of the game.
“Starting games strong has been paramount to Cincinnati’s success. Since Week 5, the start of the team’s current winning streak, the Bengals have scored touchdowns on 42.1% of their first-half drives, according to ESPN Stats & Information. That ranks second in the NFL. When Cincinnati reeled off eight straight wins to end the 2022 regular season, the Bengals led the league in that category at 39.5%,” Baby wrote.
In their first four games of the season, the Bengals scored in single digits twice, digging holes they were unable to climb out of. While Cincinnati is certainly better equipped than most teams to mount a comeback given their offensive arsenal, getting off to strong starts has been key in their turnaround.
In addition to the faster starts, their defense has been very opportunistic. The Bengals are forcing turnovers at the fourth-highest rate in the NFL, as 17 percent of their opponent’s drives have ended in one.
If there is some regression to the mean there, it is fair to assume Cincinnati will get some on offense as well. There is just too much talent for the Bengals to remain below average on offense, as they are 23rd in points scored and 25th in yardage gained. They currently have the least productive rushing attack in the NFL, ranking last with only 607 yards.
Getting things figured out on the ground will only help the offense become more efficient. But, as long as Burrow can remain healthy, this is a dangerous team to go up against.
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