NYJ DL Sheldon Richardson suspended for Bengals game

[*SHRacerX*]

(07-02-2016, 04:17 PM)Brownshoe Wrote: Atkins isn't the best DT in the league, and Burfict is close to the best in the league. The last full year Burfict was healthy he lead the league in tackles. The only LB that would fit in our defense as a LB that would be better is Kuechly.

If you look at our defense ANY time Burfict is out of the game it's VERY VERY noticeable how much worse we are doing. If you look at 2014 when Burfict was playing we were doing great on defense. One of the best in points allowed. When Burfict couldn't get back on the field our defense looked like crap.

The defense plays good w/o Atkins and plays like crap w/o Burfict. It seems pretty obvious that Burfict means more to the defense than Atkins. Team records isn't following my logic at all. It's showing a team stat and not a defensive stat. Our defense could shut an opponent out and we could still lose.

Burfict is the MVP of our defense, and if you can't see it then you need to re-watch a lot of our games.

I disagree with this.  When the Bengals started out 8-0, it was without Burfict.  The defense was stellar, even without him.  If Atkins isn't the best DT in the league (at least for the defense the Bengals run, 4-3, where he plays the 5-technique, then I would be curious to know who is better.

Burfict is a major contributor, and they are undoubtedly better with him in the lineup, but I wouldn't go so far as to say the defense plays good without Atkins.  At 100%, which he is now, he is a difference maker.