How the Cincinnati Bengals can win the AFC North

ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 30: A.J. Green #18 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates the game winning touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 30, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

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CINCINNATI, OH – NOVEMBER 25: Andy Dalton #14 of the Cincinnati Bengals slips out of an attempted tackle by Myles Garrett #95 of the Cleveland Browns during the second quarter at Paul Brown Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by John Grieshop/Getty Images) /

2. Protect Andy Dalton

For any number of years, the Cincinnati Bengals were led by one of the better offensive lines in the league. The front was spearheaded by left tackle Andrew Whitworth and featured quite the inside punch of guards Clint Boling and Kevin Zeitler as well. During the 2017 offseason, Whitworth inked a deal with the Los Angeles Rams and Zeitler (now a member of the New York Giants) signed with the Cleveland Browns.

It’s safe to say this group really hasn’t been the same since. To the team’s credit, it took some steps last offseason by trading for left tackle Cordy Glenn and using a first-round draft choice on center Billy Price. In 2017, Cincinnati finished last in the league in total offense, 31st in rushing yards per game and allowed 40 sacks. This past season, the Bengals’ running game was 21st in the NFL and the club surrendered 37 quarterback traps.

Last month, the Bengals used the 11th overall pick in the draft to select promising Alabama Crimson Tide offensive tackle Jonah Williams. He figures to be the right tackle opposite Glenn and that’s good news for quarterback Andy Dalton. Over the past three seasons, he’s been sacked 101 times in 43 regular-season outings. In four of his first five years in the NFL, the eight-year pro was dropped less than 30 times. It’s safe to say the line must come together sooner than later.

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