The Bengals are still having trouble with the run game, and this data helps to explain why they gave up on the rushing approach when the offense wasn’t performing well.
The topic of discussion shifted to the run game of the Cincinnati Bengals, which has gained popularity as a result of recent developments and results. Pro Football Focus (PFF)’s Brad Spielberger joined the conversation to clarify some of the subtleties around the Bengals’ 2023 running game.
Solomon Wilcots opened the discussion with a relevant query: Why, after only 15 running attempts in their most recent game, have the Bengals essentially abandoned their run game? He brought attention to an alarming trend: the Bengals often give up on running plays entirely when facing offensive difficulties.
run game output throughout the entire 2023 campaign. He conceded that the Bengals might not be expected to run the ball a lot given the conditions and game script. Spielberger did, however, draw attention to a more urgent problem: the run game’s total abandonment, even when trailing by a score of one or two.
Brad highlighted a few key points, one of which being the Bengals’ rushing attack’s lack of explosiveness. He pointed out that having an explosive run game may be helpful even when the Bengals needed to push the ball. Regrettably, Cincinnati’s situation was not helped by the numbers.
In terms of forced missed tackles, the Bengals came in third, showing a lack of ability to make defenders miss. Furthermore, they were in the league’s lowest ten in terms of their explosive rush rate, which is determined by rushes of 10 yards or more. This emphasized the Bengals’ inability to produce big running plays and the lack of noteworthy progress in the running game.
On Sunday, BetOnline has Cincinnati as a 7-point underdog against the Chiefs.
