The Cincinnati Bengals are taking a trip to Florida this week, as they face the 0-4 Miami Dolphins with both teams desperate for a win. The Bengals are on a two-game losing streak, and the wheels could quickly fall off if they make it three in a row.
As we know, the defense was the big talking point heading into the season, after two years of barely having a defense. Dexter Lawrence has made a huge difference in stopping the run, and Boye Mafe, Jonathan Allen and Myles Murphy have all shown they can get pressure on the QB.
Last week against the Jaguars, the Cincy defense recorded four sacks on Trevor Lawrence and held the former Clemson quarterback to just over 220 passing yards. However, it's still hard to tell just how good this pass defense is, as they also allowed a 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers to throw for almost 300 yards and three touchdowns.
The Dolphins game provides the perfect indicator for Al Golden's defense
Miami aren't a good football team, we knew this before the season, and four weeks has been enough to prove it. With Malik Willis at quarterback, the Dolphins have the third-fewest passing yards per game ahead of only Minnesota and Tennessee.
Willis is the third lowest-rated QB so far this season, according to ESPN, and his offense hasn't scored multiple touchdowns in any of its four games so far this season.
Considering that this passing offense is one of, if not, the worst in the NFL, the Bengals defense should be able to silence it completely if they are a good unit. For reference, the Vikings have one of the best defenses in the league, and they held Willis to 85 passing yards in week three.
Al Golden will surely be scheming for a lot of pressure on the Dolphins QB, especially considering that in a game script where the Bengals lead, Willis will likely have to keep throwing to try and catch up. Lawrence, Mafe and Allen should be licking their lips with the potential to record multiple sacks this weekend.
Plus, the Dolphins' star running back De'Von Achane is on injured reserve, which means they can't even fall back on just rushing the ball, or dumping off passes to him in the open field.
All things considered, it should be a recipe for success for this revamped Bengals defense. But if they can't contain the Dolphins, then Al Golden will surely have cause for concern.
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