Is Al Golden figuring things out on the defensive side of the ball?

Even when the Bengals jumped out to a 10-0 lead, it just felt like it would never last. It didn’t take long for that feeling to come to fruition. After a Joe Flacco pick-six, the Patriots quickly regained a lead that they would not relinquish for the rest of the day. The Bengals eventually dropped their fourth straight game, this time by a score of 26-20.

For a second straight week, there were at least signs of life on the defensive side of the ball. The Bengals even had an impressive goal-line stand in the second half, where they had to overcome a fourth-down holding penalty. Geno Stone recorded an interception that he returned for a touchdown. He was also a reliable tackler with no missed tackles yesterday. Toss in a couple of hurries, and I am not sure who that actually was out there wearing #22.

Myles Murphy also flashed as a pass rusher a couple of times throughout the game. He and Kris Jenkins led the team in pressures, with three apiece. Seeing some improvement from the younger players on this defense is one of the few things to continue hoping to see each week, in what appears to be another lost season.

I respect everything that Joe Flacco has done since joining the Bengals earlier this season. He gave us an opportunity to win so many games that the defense squandered away. While the injury is likely part of it, Flacco is just not the same type of talent that Joe Burrow is.

The last two weeks certainly felt like games that Burrow could have found a way to lead some late-game magic. Getting at least average play on the defensive side of the ball these past two games, I can’t help but feel like Joe Burrow pulls out those victories. Even though the Bengals are currently 3-8, it is always nice to go in and ruin Thanksgiving for fans of the Baltimore Ravens. It will likely be Joe Burrow leading that charge this week.

With Ja’Marr Chase suspended this week, it seemed like an opportunity for Jermaine Burton to at least be active on game day. Instead, he was inactive like he has been the entire season. I am not sure he will be active this week while Tee Higgins is out, either. The coaches seem to have no faith in him, for likely good reasons.

If they were to cut him this year, they wouldn’t really be saving any money. After the season, they can save over $1 million against the cap for next year if they cut him. I imagine that is what will happen. Such a disappointment for a player you took with the 80th overall selection. It shouldn’t be that shocking; there were red flags all over his background leading up to the draft.