ESPN Doesn't Have Our Line As Our Biggest Weakness!

[BFritz21]

I know that ESPN's not the end-all be-all, but they listed the biggest weaknesses for 14 playoff contenders, and ours is NOT our offensive line, but rather our secondary:

Quote:Like the Eagles, Cincinnati is trying to adjust to its new economic reality on the fly. In the process, it has had to let veterans leave. Eli Apple, Jessie Bates, Vonn Bell and Tre Flowers all left in free agency this offseason. That's more than 3,100 combined defensive snaps from last season scattering around the NFL.

There are players here to try to replace those lost veterans. Nick Scott, who emerged during Los Angeles' run to the Super Bowl in 2021, signed a low-cost deal to take over one starting safety spot. Dax Hill, a first-round pick in 2022 who played 131 snaps as a rookie, will be the other starter. Mike Hilton returns in the slot, and Taylor-Britt got better as his rookie season went along. Rookie second-rounder DJ Turner could see time in his debut season and profiles as the likely long-term replacement for Hilton.

The biggest difference-maker might not be any of those guys. Chidobe Awuzie was playing at an All-Pro level last season before tearing the ACL in his right knee in November. The former Cowboys corner had been a revelation since joining the Bengals in free agency, raising his game in 2021 and then again even higher in 2022. If the Awuzie who comes back is the guy who was allowing a 53.4 passer rating in coverage before his injury, the Bengals should be fine. If he's battling to stay on the field as he recovers from the torn ligament in his knee, there will be real questions about whether this secondary can hold up to the passing attacks it'll face in the playoffs.

First of all, our secondary might not be that proven of a unit, especially not together, but that makes it sound like it's more of a question mark rather than a weakness, especially if we can get a pass rush with Hubbard, Hendrickson, Ossai, and Murphy on the ends, and then even Hill and Reader from defensive tackle.

If our offensive line isn't our biggest weakness, I think we can win every game because Burrow's has proven he can lead us deep in the playoffs with basically no offensive line.

I didn't use my usual exclamation marks, but I'm pumped up about this and it's giving me even more hope going into this season!