Bengals’ 2023 season was disrupted by secondary attrition and Joe Burrow’s injury.
It’s difficult to pinpoint the precise area where the Cincinnati Bengals failed in 2023.
The obvious pick is the Week 11 game against the Baltimore Ravens, when quarterback Joe Burrow attempted a sideline pass but was unable to do so due to a ruptured ligament in his right wrist. However, it was only one of several problems that prevented Cincinnati from going deep into the postseason for the third consecutive year.
One could go all the way back to the start of the summer, when the Bengals’ secondary was severely lacking when safety Vonn Bell and Jessie Bates III signed free agent contracts with other clubs. The Bengals’ inability to sign a suitable starting tight end in free agency marked another turning point.
Of course, there were also the injuries that started Cincinnati off badly right away.
On January 8, one day after the Bengals finished the season with a 9-8 record, Burrow remarked, “It was a bizarre year.” We never felt as though we had fully realized our potential.
A sick quarterback
From the second training camp practice, all appeared lost.
Burrow showed up that day with a compression sleeve on his right calf. Burrow injured his right calf during team workouts after rolling right on a throw play. Burrow was out for the opening few weeks of the season in addition to missing over a month of practice.
Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan stated in his last press conference of the regular season that Burrow’s injury ruined the team’s offensive game plan for 2023.
As much as we could, we were attempting to handle Joe, Callahan said. “Therefore, that was the main reason behind a lot of the things we had planned to do earlier than we really did.”
Based on ESPN Stats & Information, the Bengals ran 93.6% of their offensive plays out of shotgun throughout the first four weeks of the season. Burrow’s mobility increased, and that percentage fell to 85.4%.
Additionally, the Bengals won 4-1 in the five games Burrow was healthy, including victories over the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers as well as a close home loss to the Houston Texans. All three clubs advanced to the postseason’s divisional stage.
The Bengals started the 2022 season with a.500 record, but they won eight straight games and ultimately captured their second consecutive AFC North championship.
In 2023, Burrow suffered a season-ending injury during a touchdown throw that gave Cincinnati a 10-7 lead over the Ravens on the road. Bengals were defeated 34–20 in that encounter.
“We normally start to take that jump in the year where we have in previous years,” Burrow remarked, referring to the location of the injury. “That year was difficult.”
Attrition in the off-season
When it became evident in 2021 that Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase would demand enormous salaries to reflect their importance to the team’s future success, the salary cap squeeze was imminent.
Months before Burrow agreed to a $275 million contract extension in September, that effect was felt. Bates, who spent five seasons as Cincinnati’s starting free safety, inked a $64 million, four-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons. Strong safety Bell, who has been with the Bengals since 2020, inked a $22.5 million, three-year contract with the Carolina Panthers.
In their stead, the Bengals signed Nick Scott to a modest three-year deal worth $12 million, including $3 million guaranteed, to replace Bell. Bates was replaced by Dax Hill, a first-round pick in 2022.
That was one part of Cincinnati’s defense’s challenging season. In terms of plays allowed of 20 yards or more, the Bengals lead the NFL. Sixty-five of the 82 plays that were given up were on passing plays.
Midway through the season, Cincinnati had three first-year starters in the secondary (Battle, Hill, and rookie cornerback DJ Turner) when third-round pick Jordan Battle took Scott’s spot. In-game breakdowns that the Bengals were unable to resolve were one of the young team’s growing pains.
According to defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, “certain things happen during the game that don’t happen during the week of practice.” This was stated on January 3. If it can’t be fixed throughout the workweek, it’s difficult to fix. Therefore, as we proceed, they are the things that need to be fixed and figured out.”
Hayden Hurst, a tight end who signed a $21.8 million three-year contract with the Panthers, was another offensive player whom the Bengals struggled to replace.Despite starting the season, Irv Smith Jr. did not play in the final three regular season games.
Big plays are lacking in the run game
The Bengals’ offensive performance in the previous campaign was influenced by another significant offseason choice.
Joe Mixon, the starting running back and former Pro Bowler who the team selected in the 2018 draft, reached an agreement to a modified contract that will lessen his salary budget impact in 2023.
Overall, the data indicates that Mixon had a successful year. With 1,410 total scrimmage yards (1,034 rushing, 376 receiving), he ranked 12th in the NFL. For that, he was selected as the first alternate for the Pro Bowl.
But Mixon failed to score many big runs. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Mixon had the 25th best success percentage among running backs with at least 20 carries against defensive boxes with six or fewer players. In terms of success rate versus light defensive boxes, rookie rushing back Chase Brown—who scored his first touchdown of the season on a screen ball that he turned into a 54-yard score—was last out of 76 qualified running backs.
Players and coaches predicted that having an explosive running game would be crucial going into 2023. That continues to be the Bengals’ principal focus as they prepare for 2024.
Burrow stated, “I think we can be more explosive in the run game.” “We’ve been effective, I believe. We’ve managed to stay on track thanks to the run game. Hitting a few home runs would be pleasant.”
Burrow complimented the way the two looked at the close of the season and claimed that Mixon had one of his best seasons. However, the Bengals will need to make a new decision regarding that group’s ability to force Cincinnati to contend for the championship the following year.
