Bengals defensive struggles: Holding them back from being a legit contender
The Cincinnati Bengals have one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses, with Joe Burrow coming off an MVP-caliber year and Ja’Marr Chase cementing himself as the league’s top receiver. But over the past few seasons, defensive struggles have held them back, and last year it cost them a playoff spot despite elite production from their stars. With only minor defensive upgrades this offseason and Trey Hendrickson’s contract situation hanging over the team, the Bengals could be headed for the same outcome in 2025 if things don’t change.
What’s the Solution?
The solution likely won’t come from any major additions to the roster, as the Bengals didn’t make significant player upgrades on defense this offseason. Instead, their biggest hope lies in new defensive coordinator Al Golden, who takes over for Lou Anarumo, who was fired in January after six seasons. Golden had plenty of success at Notre Dame, where he transformed the defense, and Cincinnati will be counting on his new schemes to compensate for a lack of top-end talent on that side of the ball. One of the biggest X-factors in 2025 will be star defensive end Trey Hendrickson. If he and the Bengals can’t agree to a contract extension, they risk losing one of the NFL’s elite pass rushers, who led the league in sacks last season. That could be a major blow and a key reason why the team might miss the playoffs yet again this season.
On the bright side, the Bengals used their first two picks in the 2025 NFL Draft on the defensive side of the ball. They selected defensive end Shemar Stewart in the first round and linebacker Demetrius Knight in the second. Both have plenty of upside and could develop into impact players, while established contributors like Logan Wilson and Cam Taylor-Britt look to have strong seasons. The fix won’t be overnight, but the Bengals have to remember they have one of the league’s best quarterbacks and receivers on a top-tier offense. The defense they have now is likely what they will be working with all season, so if it is not enough to get them over the hump this year, then they will need to be far more aggressive in acquiring defensive talent next offseason.
Bengals defense in first preseason game
Bengals kicked off their Preseason against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday. Despite it just being preseason, the defense did not look all that good. Eagles running back Will Shipley, competing to be Saquon Barkley’s primary backup this season, broke free for a big run early on. Jalen Hurts backup, Tanner McKee, connected with receiver Jahan Dotson on both of his early pass attempts before scoring on a tush push. The Eagles, playing without any offensive starters, also came away with a field goal on their second drive, as the Bengals defense looked shaky even with several projected starters still in the game. That said, it’s still early in the preseason, and it will take some time for the defense to adjust to new defensive coordinator Al Golden’s system before they can be judged fairly.
Reality of the Bengals
The reality is, with an above-average defense, the Bengals would be a legitimate Super Bowl contender. As it stands, there isn’t a huge difference between this year’s defense and last year’s, outside of the addition of Al Golden. Perhaps Golden’s presence and defensive schemes can unlock the full potential of the talent they already have, giving them the balance they need. Still, they’ll likely find themselves in plenty of shootouts, often needing to score 30 or more points to win, a formula that’s far from ideal. Despite the Bengals defensive struggles recently, they still have a solid championship window with Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase leading the way, and the hope is they can figure it out in time to make another run at the Super Bowl like they did against the Rams just a few years ago.
Main Photo: [Eric Hartline] – USA Today Sports
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