Bengals Week 6 PFF Recap: 3 stats to know
Every week, win or lose, we'll dive into the premium stats from Pro Football Focus and identify three stats to know from the previous Cincinnati Bengals game. On a day when it seemed like points were going to pile up on Paycor Stadium's scoreboards, the Cincinnati Bengals and Seattle Seahawks combined for just 30 points […]
Every week, win or lose, we'll dive into the premium stats from Pro Football Focus and identify three stats to know from the previous Cincinnati Bengals game.
On a day when it seemed like points were going to pile up on Paycor Stadium's scoreboards, the Cincinnati Bengals and Seattle Seahawks combined for just 30 points in a 17-13 victory for the home team. The Bengals can tip their cap on an impressive defensive showing, but major questions remain for the offense going forward.
Let's see what the advanced stats had to say about the Bengals' Week 6 performance.
QB Joe Burrow: Average Depth of Target of 5.9 yards
It's no secret that Burrow isn’t launching throws down the field as much as he was two years ago. This development began last year when defenses started keeping plays in front of them, and it hasn’t swung back. No matter what defenses are throwing at you, an average of 5.9 yards per throw is dreadful, and makes for a day when the quarterback completes just six of 13 passes in the second half. Only three other QBs had a lower average this week.
5.9 yards is the second-lowest ADoT Burrow has averaged in a game this season. The lowest? 4.5 yards in Week 4's bludgeoning against the Tennessee Titans. It's also the fifth game he's averaged below 6.0 yards in his career.
WRs Ja'Marr Chase & Tee Higgins: One catch on five targets vs. man coverage
Chase turned in a solid outing with six catches for 80 yards against Seattle's secondary, but nearly all of that came against off coverage. Three of his 13 targets came against man and he hauled in just one of them for seven yards. Part of this was on Burrow's inaccuracy (one of the throws was Burrow's interception), part of this was due to the Seahawks deploying zone for most of the game. Regardless, he's one of the best receivers in the game and needs to win one-on-ones more times than not.
Higgins simply needs wins, period. Burrow was 0-2 going his way in one-on-one matchups, the last one the most damning as he failed to haul in a high-point grab that he's made countless times in a Bengals uniform over the years. He deserves props for playing through his rib injury, but he was not himself and probably shouldn’t have played at all.
ED Cam Sample: 36.4% pass rushing win rate
Alright, how about a positive? The Bengals' starting front four were absolute menaces against Seattle's offensive line, but Sample may've had the most efficient day of the entire defensive line. In just 12 pass rushing snaps he recorded three pressures, a sack, and a hit on quarterback Geno Smith.
Sample did all of that against true pass sets as well, of which he had seven opportunities. The third-year player is very much on pace to set new career-highs in pressures and sacks as he's up to 11 and two, respectively, through six games. The Bengals' defensive line can continue eating well if Sample builds on this performance.
Bengals: Continual offensive woes have OC Brian Callahan ‘fuming’
A candid statement that needed to be said.
