The Cincinnati Bengals defense came up big and made timely plays to help secure a much-needed victory against the Denver Broncos in Week 15. This win pushes the Bengals to 8-6 and currently are leading the AFC North. The defense has played very well at times this season when the offense has struggled to score. The Bengals only amassed 15 points, but it was enough due to pressure from the Bengals front four and an incredible play from Khalid Kareem that changed the outcome of the game. The Bengals have two of the final three games in the division. This week at home against the Baltimore Ravens and at the Cleveland Browns to close out the season. If they can win these two games, it will win the division, and thanks in large part, to the stellar play of Cincinnati’s defense.
[pickup_prop id=”15597″]
Cincinnati Bengals Defense Stifles Denver Broncos in Week 15 Win
The calling card of the Bengals defense this season has been to get pressure with the front four and rely on solid secondary work to limit big plays over the top. This was the exact formula they used to defeat the Las Vegas Raiders Week 11 and it worked to perfection again against Denver. Bengals defensive end, Trey Hendrickson has been one of the best free-agent signings in recent memory for the team. He has been on an absolute tear in getting pressure and bringing down quarterbacks this season. Hendrickson has a sack in his last 10 games and is two games away from tying Jevon Kearse’s record of 12 games with at least a half-sack. The Bengals were also able to control Denver’s two-headed running monster of Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams. They were held to only 125 combined rushing with no touchdowns. This helped the secondary keep everything in front of them and made for long drives the entire game.
Play of the Game
The play of the game came from second-year defensive end, Kareem. Denver was driving late in the fourth quarter and that’s when Kareem took the ball out of Drew Lock’s hands and led to the Bengals essentially bleeding the clock to ensure a victory.
SO IT'S OUR BALL! WHAT A PLAY FROM @khalid_kareem53
Watch on CBS pic.twitter.com/TMM3AtoKaL
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) December 19, 2021
These plays in critical situations are important if you want to make the playoffs and win the division. The Bengals will need more of these in the remaining three games and hopefully beyond.
Massive Levels
In defensive struggles that ensue in a season, you still need to hit big plays on offense to win. The Bengals got the one look they needed and took advantage of it.
MASSIVE LEVELS
Watch on CBS pic.twitter.com/CbiQGoHTSC
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) December 19, 2021
As the third quarter was coming to a close, Joe Burrow hit a wide-open Tyler Boyd on a huge play that put the Bengals up for good at 15-10. Burrow noted after the game. “Yeah, I mean, that’s great call by Zac [Taylor]. That’s a play we repped in practice all week, and really credit to him. He saw what they were doing to us when we got on the ball and kind of hurried up. So we got to that play and that’s credit to Zac. Great call.” This week the Bengals have a huge opportunity in their quest to win the division. If they can beat the Ravens, the levels get even more massive.
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
