When a healthy Joe Burrow is your quarterback, you can afford supreme confidence more than most in the NFL. Such is the case with anyone affiliated with the Cincinnati Bengals, never mind players like Chase Brown who witness Burrow's greatness up-close on a daily basis.
But we all know and expect the Bengals' offense to be excellent in 2026. Brown is a big part of that equation, coming off his first 1,000-yard rushing season and proving his chops as an ascending pass-catcher as well.
The defense is the main issue. It's held the Bengals back from making the playoffs in each of the last three years.
Brown believes times are changing in the Queen City to say the least.
Brown cranks up the heat on Bengals defense to deliver elite 2026 turnaround
In an interview with NFL Network, Chase Brown couldn't have had more conviction about how much he believes the Bengals' defense will improve this year. He went as far to say that they could be a top-five, or at least a top-10 unit:
"That’s an experienced group. To see what they’re doing this year, the amount of havoc they’re causing up front, the amount of pressure they’re putting on Joe…I feel comfortable saying this: That’s a top-10, top-five defense. […] What’s even more encouraging is the way that they’re playing together. The way that they interact with each other, the way that they’re communicating. It’s really good to see."
This Bengals defensive unit looks a lot different. Incumbent linebackers Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter have gone from major question marks to legit Year 2 leap candidates. The overhauled defensive line spearheaded by Dexter Lawrence has flashed sheer dominance against an offensive line that returns all five starters.
Although he suffered a minor hamstring injury (as reported by ESPN's Ben Baby) in Friday's practice at Paycor Stadium, Bryan Cook will bring some long-awaited stability to Cincinnati's safety room. That position group has been in serious disarray since Jessie Bates left town.
So yeah, things are looking up. And mentioning Cook's absence from Sunday's practice, when Brown dropped this scorching-hot take, is noteworthy because obviously Cook wasn't even on the field.
Lawrence's presence alone is a game-changer in the trenches. Not only will his 350-pound frame clog running lanes for a run defense that ranked dead-last in 2025, but Sexy Dexy can also push the pocket as a pass rusher with the best of them.
Fellow newcomers Boye Mafe and Jonathan Allen add serious pass rushing juice and athleticism to a Cincinnati d-line that was in dire need of those attributes for years on end.
This is no longer a "Trey Hendrickson and cross your fingers on everyone else" type of unit. This d-line could go from a years-long weakness to a full-on strength in short order.
So let's put it all together. The defensive line is deeper and more dominant at tackle than it has been in a very long time. Knight and Carter look like they're taking that next big step in real time. Cook's sure tackling ability is a perfect complement to Jordan Battle's coverage chops as a deep safety. And last but surely not least, extension candidate cornerbacks DJ Turner and Dax Hill are one of the NFL's better 1-2 boundary duos in the sport.
That sure does sound like a top-10 defense on paper to me. Maybe even top five!
And how's this for a contrast mic drop to play you out? Let me take you back to Brown's comments after last year's 47-42 home loss to the Chicago Bears, where Brown went nuclear on the Bengals' pitiful defense (deservedly so):
"It sucks. [...] What the f***? What the f***? [...] I'd be lying if I said it didn't set us back from where we want to be. Our mentality was 3-0 going into this bye week, and we could've easily done it. That's the sickening part. [...] We just gotta play complementary football. We put the ball in the end zone, and go up a point at the end, finish the f*****g game. Just end it."
Safe to say the explosive running back has changed his tune. As should those of us anticipating a massive defensive improvement this season.
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