The story of Week 1 in Cincinnati was the Bengals defense. They created four turnovers in the 33-27 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and for the first time, it finally feels like Joe Burrow has a defense that can help him compete for the AFC.
Several of the offseason additions made themselves heard in Week 1, with Jonathan Allen and Dexter Lawrence dominating the interior and Bryan Cook and Boye Mafe both forcing fumbles. They now have the challenge of living up to their Week 1 standard as they head South to face the Houston Texans on Sunday.
Most Bengals fans would agree that the offseason was perhaps Duke Tobin's best work during his time at Cincinnati. Not only did the Bengals add some talented veterans in free agency, they also traded for Dexter Lawrence and drafted Cashius Howell in the second round, which looks to be a steal.
Marvin Lewis heaps praise on Duke Tobin for the Bengals' defensive additions
Many around the NFL have taken notice of the Bengals defense after that Week 1 performance. None more so than former Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, who heaped praise on the Bengals' defense after the Bucs' win, saying that he saw a different attitude. He also knew exactly who Bengals fans should be thanking for the transformation.
Lewis was quite passionate about Cincinnati's reinforcements on that side of the ball while appearing on Inside Football's Podcast:
"They played confidently. They were going after it each and every play. Adding Mafe from the Seahawks, Jonathan Allen, Bryan Cook; Their second-round pick, too, Cashius Howell; these dudes came through. The two young linebackers were not a liability on defense, and then the secondary played their tail off. My gosh, it was impressive: the confidence, the way they stripped the football, the way they tackled, and took the football away. Credit to Duke Tobin."
Lewis was full of praise for the moves that the Bengals' front office made during the offseason. There was always that level of excitement from Cincy fans, but now we've seen what this defense can produce, against a fairly decent offense in the Bucs, the excitement really begins to hit.
Burrow said that he's tired of saying 'next year'; well, Tobin's moves in the offseason have made that a reality. Cincinnati is all in to win a Championship this year. We know it, Burrow knows it, the defense knows it, and clearly Marvin Lewis sees it too.
Add us as a preferred source on Google