Cincinnati Bengals Need A Gut Check

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Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

On Sunday during the Bengals embarrassing loss to the Cowboys, Chad Johnson tweeted “the Bengals will be fine.” Was he telling the truth?

On Sunday during the Bengals embarrassing loss to the Cowboys, Chad Johnson tweeted “Bengals will be fine It’s just one game & it will end closer than what the score is now….” The infamous OchoCinco was right about one thing, the game did end with a closer score. At that time, the score was 28-0, Andy Dalton and Brandon Lafell limped into the end zone for two touchdowns, ending the game 28-14.

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However, Johnson was wrong when he said it was just one game. Yes, it’s the first game Cincinnati has been beaten and embarrassed before the half, but it’s not the first time Cincinnati’s offensive line has been pushed around, it’s not the first time Cincinnati hasn’t been able to run, pass or move the ball and it’s not the first time Cincinnati’s defensive could be mistaken as a Kevin Hart joke. It was literally laughably bad.

For starters, let’s talk about the offensive line. They say games are won in the trenches, so, why not start here. First off, Cedric Ogbuehi is not performing like he once was at Texas A&M. The tackle has been given up countless pressures throughout the entire season. If Andre Smith wasn’t headed to Injured Reserve, I’d be calling for Cincinnati to bring him back. Despite his injury-prone self, Smith played well when he was on the field. Yes, he gave up the occasional pressure, but it was never at the same rate as Ogbuehi. Gut Check.

I’m not just picking on essentially the “rookie.” Kevin Zeitler, Clint Boling, and Andrew Whitworth are in for it too, but first Russell Bodine. At the conclusion of the season, Boling has to go. He has yet to pan out and we have seen that he cannot hold his own against top-tier tackles or simply heavier tackles. Boling was literally lifted off of his feet pushed on his back against Dallas, but then again that’s not an uncommon sight to Bodine.

Zeitler and Boling simply have to do better and open up running lanes. Not all the penalties that were called on Zeitler were actually his. The refs did get the number, however, doesn’t negate the fact that Cincinnati still can’t run the ball. These are two run-blocking specialists and need to do what they are paid to do. Lastly, Whitworth. Perhaps, he’s lost a step. Perhaps, his age has caught up to him. Regardless, he needs to step up and lead this offensive line. It’s time for a gut check from the offensive line.