The Bengals (7-8) have won three straight, and with two games left, they are still in the hunt.
“Those guys have confidence, and they’re playing together,” Taylor said. “The communication has been really good, and not giving up a lot of air in there for easy completions and having to make them make those space plays. I’m really proud of how they’ve locked down and focused on the little details and played together, and it’s been good to see.”
A switch was flipped in Week 14, when the Bengals defense shut down the Cowboys late, Burrow connected with Chase for 40-yard touchdown to take a lead with 1:09 left, and Cincinnati forced a turnover on downs to seal the win. The next week, the Bengals had six takeaways in a sloppy win over the Titans, and on Sunday, they added three more in a 24-6 win over the Browns.
During that time, the Bengals allowed just 17.7 points per game to bring their average down about two points from 28.3 over the first 12 games. They also allowed just 323.0 yards per game over the last three weeks after giving up an average of 369.2 yards during a 4-8 start.
Now the Bengals just need to do it against teams with a winning record the next two weeks, starting Saturday against Denver (9-6).
“I think the level of focus in the building, you can just feel it every day in practice,” Battle said. “It’s a level of energy that we didn’t have early in the season. I feel like, guys are just having fun. That’s a big thing, having fun, celebrate with your guys when they make a play, show excitement. Other teams hate that because when they see us have the motivation and they see us have the momentum going into a drive, it’s like, kind of scary. We want to be all 11 hats to the ball. We’re trying to be more aggressive. So that’s what we try to do, create that intimidating factor as a defense.”
The turnovers on Sunday were significant in that all three came from a safety position that has been scrutinized because of its struggles since the tandem of Jessie Bates and Vonn Bell was broken up with their departures after the 2022 season.
Bell returned this year and was supposed to be a big part of the solution to a young defense that struggled with communication and often just looked lost in 2023; however, after 11 starts, he was benched and Battle given those snaps that he had been gradually building up to.
Stone had been another disappointment after a seven-interception season with Baltimore last year, but he’s had a pick in each of the last three games and now has four as he seems to be finding his stride.
“We all did our jobs, we’re all playing fast,” Stone said of the safety play. “I feel like we’re all finally playing together like we should be. Everyone is adjusting. We still have weaknesses here and there we need to fix, but overall we’re doing our jobs right now.”
Cincinnati’s 23 turnovers on defense ranks eighth most in the league.
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
Stone and Battle had interceptions on back-to-back drives in the fourth quarter to prevent the Browns’ comeback effort after the offense had been shut out in the third quarter. Battle’s pick came in the endzone, a week after he picked up a fumble and returned it 60 yards only to then turn it over right before he reached the goal line for a should-be touchdown.
However, Bell’s forced fumble on the goal line and recovery was perhaps the biggest play of the day. Taylor, and many of Bell’s teammates, said that set the tone for the defense after a disappointing start that allowed the Browns to quickly reach the 1-yard line for what looked like a sure touchdown. Bell punched the ball out of D’Onta Freeman’s hands and landed on it to set up a 99-yard touchdown drive for the Bengals, who were able to take a 17-0 lead into halftime.
“It’s the game right there,” Taylor said. “I mean, not really, but there’s a good chance that you’re fighting uphill the rest of the way. It’s a 14-point swing. Not only did it take the life out of them a little bit — getting that stop on the one-yard line, getting the ball and then taking it 99 yards on a great defense. It gave us a lot of confidence and set the tone.”
Bell would like to play more snaps, of course, but he’s been helping coach up the other players on the sidelines and staying ready for his opportunities. The one on Sunday was a big one, and very similar to a play he made two years ago at New England to save the game.
“I’m always in there, giving information and my mind is always working, so I’m always checking, always ready to go,” Bell said. “Just always ready to go when my number is called and my opportunity is there to make a play. I always cherish these moments because it’s always business and you’ve got to cherish the moments when you’re out there. I just go out and make the most of it and have fun.”
SATURDAY’S GAME
Broncos at Bengals, 4:30 p.m., NFL Network, 700, 1530, 102.7, 104.7
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