The Bengals got a bounce back win in Arizona in week 5, and were looking to win back to back games for the first time in 2023 to get back to .500. Facing a Seahawks team that has been pretty solid of late, a win certainly wasn’t a given. However, more optimism seems to be flowing through the organization, with Burrow’s health continuing to improve. The game started out looking like it would be an offensive shootout, before becoming a stingy defensive battle. On both sides, there were nice moments, but even with a check going in the win column, improvements can be made.
The Good:
CB, Cam Taylor-Britt
Taylor-Britt was in a role where he largely matched up against DK Metcalf. Though not as big in size, he was able to match Metcalf’s physicality, which led to some frustrating moments for the Seahawks wideout. Taylor-Britt’s interception in the 2nd half, while matched up against Metcalf, led to a Bengals field goal, which forced the Seahawks to go for it on 4th down late in the game, rather than allowing them to kick a field goal.
CB, Mike Hilton
Hilton had a pretty solid day defending the slot. With the weapons Seattle has, it wasn’t an easy task, but he was able to come up clutch, picking off Geno Smith in the redzone, preventing the Seahawks from putting points on the board.
DE’s, Trey Hendrickon & Sam Hubbard
These two, especially Hendrickson, have become mainstays in this category. Hendrickson was dynamic off the edge, as we’ve come to expect. Hubbard, though not as flashy as Hendrickson, was a nice compliment on the other side. Both came away with a sack.
DT’s, BJ Hill & DJ Reader
The two interior lineman also had quite the day. Usually when Hill and Reader are talked about, it is for different reasons. Reader, though usually the run stuffer, was excellent when it came to rushing the passer on Sunday. Hill also had an excellent day, and the pair combined to wreak havoc on the Seahawks pocket. The pressure from the inside played a big role in the Seahawksn coming away empty handed on multiple drives in the redzone. Statistically speaking, Hill was able to tally half a sack to his name.
DE, Cam Sample
Not to be left out by his fellow defensive linemen, Cam Sample had an outstanding game in his rotational role, further displaying just how good the Bengals are when it comes to depth at DE. When on the field, he was able to generate a substantial amount of pressure, and also came up with a big sack.
Redzone Defence
Many of these guys were individually mentioned above, but the group as a whole deserves a shoutout. Whenever Seattle entered the redzone, the Bengals defence, on most occasions, turned it up a notch. Especially late in the game, with the Seahawks needing a TD. The defensive line was vicious, while the secondary was able to clamp down. These big moments were a critical part of the Bengals win on Sunday.
WR, Tyler Boyd
With Chase getting so many targets lately, and other receivers also mixing in, Boyd hasn’t had as many targets as he had been used to seeing earlier in his career. However, on Sunday, he made the most of his increased usage. Boyd led the team in receptions, and though his output of 38 yards is nothing to write home about, several of his catches were in important situations, including one that went for a TD.
K, Evan McPherson
His 52 yard field goal came at a time when the offence was struggling. Without it, the Seahawks might have been attempting a game winning field goal late in the 4th quarter, instead of turning it over on downs.
The Bad:
Offence After the First 2 Drives
The offence got off to a hot start, scoring a TD on each of their first two drives. However, it was downhill from there. A Burrow interception was mixed in with several punts after stalled drives. After scoring those early 2 TD’s, they only managed a field goal the rest of the way. And that field goal was after Cam Taylor-Britt’s interception set them up with great field position. A lot of blame can be spread around, with some falling on the players execution, and some falling on Zac Taylor and Brian Callahan for their unimaginative offensive game plan/playcalling.
Big Plays on Defence
The defence has been improving in recent weeks, and their redzone work has especially highlighted that. Still, the opening drive was bad, as the Seahawks offence sliced through them like butter. As well, even in other parts of the game, some big plays were given up, and Seattle ended up deep in Cincinnati territory often. The clutch plays were nice, but I’d like to see a little less bend in their game.
Offensive Line
The offensive line is a lot better than it has been in recent years, but improvement is still needed. Volson has especially been singled out a number of times this year, and week 6 was no better, unfortunately.
TE, Irv Smith
Smith’s output has been disappointing, and his play on the field has been a far cry from the receiving upside he showed early in his career with the Vikings. In limited opportunities, Tanner Hudson has looked better in the passing game, and you have to wonder if the leash might be getting shorter for Smith, should there be no improvement.
Modified Homescreen Image Via: Eli Marshall