Cincinnati Bengals: Players to watch vs. Browns in Week 4
By Kenn Korb
1. Vontaze Burfict
As soon as the news hit of Vontaze Burfict having to miss a chunk of the season due to a suspension, the ceiling of Cincinnati’s defense sank considerably. In no way did it appear that his absence would help result in Cincinnati not winning a regular season game until at least October, however.
Even without Burfict though, the defense hasn’t really been the issue. Through three weeks, Cincinnati has given up the seventh-lowest total yardage per game, fourth-fewest passing yards per game, is tied for sixth in sacks (10), and stand as a top-10 unit in terms of Football Outsiders’ Defensive DVOA.
That being said, Burfict is one of the two most important players for the unit. When considering not just statistical impact, but also intangible elements like emotional influence and leadership ability, only Geno Atkins may be more integral to what the Bengals do.
His ability to make an impact in all facets of the defense and his explosive athletic ability make him a unique defensive entity few teams have access to, and one that opposing offenses must gameplan around. His return has the potential to take a Cincinnati defense from the cusp of the top ten and push them firmly into elite territory, and it couldn’t come at a better time.
At 0-3, Cincinnati needs a miracle to make the playoffs. A win here would provide much-needed relief. The offense finally found some things which worked early while playing Green Bay. If they gain some more consistency, it would go a long way to getting Cincinnati closer to the level many expected of them coming into the year.
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Until they prove capable of that on offense however, I’m wary of their ability to do so even against the weakest defense they’ve faced so far in 2017. For any chance of a turnaround in their record, this defense will need to make a leap forward from their already-good heights. With Burfict back, that sort of leap becomes a distinct possibility.