Quiet problem for the Bengals is getting louder

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.

Despite getting out to an early lead over the Houston Texans, the game script completely flipped on Cincinnati. What ensued was a wild and whacky second half that nearly elevated the Bengals to a comfortable 6-3 record.

Instead, they’re 5-4 and fighting to remain in both the AFC North and playoff hunt. Let’s see what the advanced stats had to say about the Bengals’ Week 10 performance.

OT Orlando Brown Jr.: Eight pressures allowed

It’s time to address one of the Bengals’ biggest problems at the moment. Since Week 18, Brown has been liable for 21 pressures allowed at the left tackle spot, five more than any other offensive lineman in the NFL.

He was charged with eight alone in this game, including a costly sack that forced the Bengals to kick a field goal.

There might be some context to this. Brown suffered a groin injury right before the bye week, and limited some of his practice time since then. The drop off in his pass blocking efficiency has been drastic from the first six games (96.6) to the last three (91.6). Whatever is plaguing him, it needs to be solved quickly.

QB Joe Burrow: 2.8 yards per screen pass attempts

Cincinnati’s issues in generating success on screen plays are no secret, but they were especially bleak on Sunday. Burrow threw five screen passes that amount for just 14 yards, despite completing every single attempt.

2.8 yards/screen is the lowest single-game figure for Burrow this season in games with at least five attempts.

The Texans deserve credit for sniffing out these concepts that Burrow oftentimes checks to against certain coverages, but the sheer lack of yardage is also a sign that the Bengals lack athletes at the receiver position outside of Ja’Marr Chase.

NT DJ Reader: 34.8% pass rush win rate

Good on the former Texan for showing up to try and beat his former team. Reader had an all-around great day in both phases, racking up four pressures (second-most on the defense) and two run stops.

Reader’s pass rush win rate on 24 opportunities indicates more wins against blocks than he had recorded pressures as well. Reader’s abilities as a pass rusher will almost never translate to sacks or hits, but they can never be discounted for the Bengals’ defensive line.