02-28-2020, 02:58 PM
(02-28-2020, 01:54 PM)higgy100 Wrote: 1st half of the year they played 5 games with teams in the top 6 in total defense in the league and 3 teams in the bottom 10 in total defense and in the 2nd half they played 4 games with teams in the top 7 in total defense and 1 team in the bottom 10 in total defense (Browns were 1 spot outside the bottom 10) so I don't think you're giving the running game as much credit as you should....
If you look closer, you'll realize that in the final 4 weeks of the season, they played the...
30th ranked rush defense
6th ranked rush defense
27th ranked rush defense
30th ranked rush defense
They were successful running against the 6th ranked rush defense because the Patriots were happy to allow the Bengals to run the ball in a game the Bengals lost by 3 scores.
Even if you only focus on the 2nd half of the year, the Bengals still couldn't score even 20 points per game. Despite being lifted by a 35 point game against the 32nd scoring defense.
So I think you're giving the running game more credit than you should. It basically just beat up on the Browns twice and then Zac Taylor kept running the ball in the Ravens/Patriots games that they lost 83-26. Both teams were more than happy to allow the Bengals to run it and end the game faster.
____________________________________________________________
The 2021 season Super Bowl was over 1,000 days ago.
