True worth of Bengals’ new defensive leadership is about to show itself following alarming loss to Steelers
The Cincinnati Bengals did nothing but win and feel good about themselves for the last eight months. All of it feels like a distant memory now that a loss has hit the record books, but it could end up being exactly what the Bengals need.
The Cincinnati Bengals did nothing but win and feel good about themselves for the last eight months.
A productive and aggressive off-season led to a promising training camp, and undefeated preseason, and for the second year in a row, a 2-0 start to the regular season.
All of it, of course, feels like a distant memory now that a loss has hit the record books.
Because it wasn’t just a loss. Cincinnati and its improved defense looked like the same old flaw unit on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Bengals defense falls on its face after promising first two weeks
The Bengals displayed weaknesses and were exploited so familiar to what the last three seasons had to offer. Cincinnati gave up two touchdown drives out the gate to a Steelers team that found the end zone once in its previous 25 possessions. Missed tackles and blown coverages nullified a pass rush that also wasn’t getting home quick enough for most of the game.
The culprits from last year showed up. Nickelback Jalen Davis gets burnt on the opening touchdown. Safety Jordan Battle allows a wide open score himself. Linebacker Barrett Carter is still hopeless to bring down Pittsburgh tight end Darnell Washington.
The Steelers ran the ball with ease away from the strength of the Bengals. They attacked the perimeter and forced Carter and fellow linebacker Demetrius Knight to make plays in the second level. Cornerbacks DJ Turner II and Dax Hill we’re continuously tested in setting the edge, and we’re continuously sealed off. Pittsburgh amassed 138 rushing yards on 23 attempts.
“It wasn’t us,” nose tackle Dexter Lawrence said postgame. “We can’t allow that, however it comes, however they try to do it.”
Giving up 30 points like that was as shocking as it was disappointing. Two egregious special teams miscues allowed for an additional 10 more points after the defense successfully got off the field, but the Steelers knew they had won the battle of physicality from start to finish.
Cincinnati got punched in the mouth. Nine months of nothing but positivity and optimism in the face of undeniable pressure is gone. They are back to square one, knowing the rest of the NFL has its eyes wide open with the defense looking vulnerable once again.
And while it may not seem like it right now, it could end up being exactly what the Bengals need.
Bengals’ leadership needs to galvanize everyone to respond quickly
Cincinnati was favored on the road against a fierce divisional rival. Pittsburgh was feeling the heat after two weeks of uninspiring football. The Bengals walked onto the field as a team expected to win, and walked off wondering what in the world happened.
Did all the hype and optimism go to their head? That’s a question that may not get an honest answer from anyone on the roster. What is undeniable is the next six days are significantly important for everyone to reset and come back to reality.
That is where the true worth of leadership from Lawrence, fellow defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, safety Bryan Cook, and anyone else who has a voice will show itself.
It is easy to keep everyone in line when all you know is success. Again, Cincinnati has known nothing but good times since the beginning of the 2026 league year. A franchise build as a playoff and Super Bowl contender started the season backing up the hype.
What will happen now after a defense thought to have put past problems to bed was knocked to the ground?
“We own it,” Lawrence said. “We know who we are, we’re still champions. We’re gonna prepare next week like champions, and we’re gonna go out there and beat whoever we gotta play.”
The leaders of this defense did a great job instilling a belief and urgency for the rest of the unit to match their play from the start of the offseason program through Week 2. Lawrence and Allen in particular did wonders for the defensive line during the 2-0 start. Both of them were equal equally instrumental and sending the right message in the locker room.
It cannot be understated how important their wisdom and command will be in practice this week.
An inflection point for the rest of the year
It’s only Week 3. October is still a few days away. No matter the timing, the way the Bengals lost in Pittsburgh is concerning enough to put a hand over the alarm button.
This week may become an undeniable inflection point for how the rest of the year goes.
The first loss of the season can either be a necessary wake up call that grounds the defense at the right time, or it can be the start of everything turning for the worst.
Cincinnati paid tens of millions of dollars for better tackling, more pass rushing production, and fewer points allowed. The value of adding the leaders they brought in, will truly be measured by how they respond this week.
