Another Bengals 2025 defensive nightmare is back, and teams are exploiting it

The Cincinnati Bengals have a problem. The good news is that it is a familiar problem they have ample experience dealing with. 

The bad news is that they don't seem to have the personnel or game plan to make us confident that they can address it. And no, we are not talking about missed tackles this time. 

This season, despite major defensive changes, the Bengals still have no answer as to how to slow opposing tight ends. Teams are picking up in 2026 where they left off in 2025. And so are the Bengals. 

Last year was historically bad

The Bengals were among the worst defenses in NFL history at covering tight ends. They ranked last, giving up 1,444 yards to the position in 2025. The next closest team was the Indianapolis Colts with 1,186. 

Cincinnati surrendered the most receptions, 116, with the next closest being the Dolphins at 108. 

Le coup de grâce, if that wasn’t enough, was the Bengals allowing the most touchdowns to tight ends with 16. 

Those kinds of numbers would indicate the organization would search far and wide for players, defensive schemes, and spiritual sages to combat being the worst in a particular area. 

Or….

Opposing TEs having year-best games against Bengals

Through four games this season, opposing tight ends have had their best games against the Bengals’ defense. 

In Week 2, the Texans’ Dalton Schultz had 12 receptions for 140 yards. That remains the most receiving yards from a tight end this season. In his other three games, he recorded 9 catches for 74 yards combined. 

The Steelers’ Darnell Washington posted a season-high three receptions for 67 yards in Week 3 against the Bengals. In his other three games combined, he registered five catches for 52 yards. 

In the three games prior to facing the Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars’ Brenton Strange accumulated seven receptions for 72 total yards. This past weekend, he housed Cincinnati’s defense, catching seven passes for 95 yards. 

That is three consecutive opponents’ tight ends who have not had better receiving games either before or after facing the Bengals. 

Dalton Schultz, Darnell Washington, and Brenton Strange each led their teams in receptions and receiving yards against the Bengals. 

Overall this season, the Bengals are last in yards allowed to tight ends, with 409 receiving yards surrendered. 

Adding insult to injury, tight ends are averaging 102.2 yards per game against Al Golden’s defense, which is the most through four games.

Furthermore, Cincinnati ranks 30th in receptions allowed to the position.

Luckily, their future opponents are unlikely to watch film and try to replicate the success of Cincinnati’s previous foes. 

Or…

Offensive coordinators will continue attack on mark-like behavior

Opposing teams have clearly identified the Bengals as marks for their tight ends. 

According to Fantasy Points Data, through the first three weeks, teams have targeted their tight ends 28% of pass attempts against the Bengals, the third -most in the NFL. That does not include Brenton Strange's eight targets, which represented 34.7% of Trevor Lawrence's passes in Week 4.

We should expect the Bengals to climb to the top of targets for opposing teams’ tight ends in short order. And yes, that includes the upcoming game against the Miami Dolphins. 

The Dolphins' tight ends have not done much to write home about thus far this season. However, they haven't faced the Bengals yet. 

Greg Dulcich leads the Dolphins' tight end room with nine receptions for 90 yards. 

Former Ohio State Buckeye Will Kacmarek is the only other tight end with a reception this season for Miami. He has two for 19 yards. 

Then there is the athletic rookie Seydou Traore, who has yet to record a catch since entering the league from Mississippi State. The Dolphins could target the Bengals' defense to change that. 

Bengals personnel underwhelming covering TEs

The Bengals famously did not address the linebacker position this offseason. 

Ideally, defensive coordinator Al Golden could use Tacario Davis’ length and physicality to cover tight ends in man-to-man. That does not appear to be an option. Especially now that they’ve once again decided to move Dax Hill into the slot. 

However, when Golden decides to play man coverage with a safety or linebacker, it isn't proving to be the optimal option. 

According to Kalshi Sports, linebacker Demetrius Knight has been targeted the 11th most times this season, allowing the third-most receptions and the second-highest EPA allowed.

Playing zone isn't a panacea either, as it would require linebackers and safeties to make a tackle on 3rd and 18, which has again proven problematic for the Bengals. 

Nevertheless, regardless of the cause, opposing offensive coordinators will continue to use their tight ends to attack Cincinnati’s defense if it continues to display mark-like behavior until it can prove otherwise. 

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