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What did the Bengals defense do that the Bills couldn’t?


Slingin' Sammy

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After getting shredded in the first half, the Bengals D made the Chiefs offense look as bad as it’s been in months. This is a week after the Chiefs put up 42 points and 550 yards against the Bills, one of the best defenses in the league. What adjustments did the Bengals make to get Mahomes so off his game?

Edited by Slingin' Sammy
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One thing I noticed is on some big downs the Bengals dropped 8 guys into coverage and made Patrick hold onto the ball longer then usual. This is a tactic that Belichick has employed against the Chiefs in the past to some success. It causes Mahomes to start running around to try and make something happen, which could potentially lead to a big play, but also presents the possibility that he will run into a sack or force the ball into coverage, which we saw a lot of in this game.

Edited by Slingin' Sammy
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2 hours ago, DontTazeMeBro said:

Seems like when Cincy realized the pass rush wasn’t going to get there they dropped more guys into coverage. Probably a little more complicated than that 

 

2 hours ago, SkippyX said:

Turnovers, its always about the turnovers.

They also grabbed as much as the refs would allow  (both teams did)

 

1 hour ago, Kip Smithers said:

Even if you look at the TDs to Hill and Kelce, all happened on broken plays. In the second half the Bengals weren’t allowing that by dropping an extra into coverage. Also disciplined. 

 

It deserves to be mentioned that CIN D made no adjustments in the 1H - and had no pressure.  Always 4 guys, always guys in base zone.  Read and react.  And, yes, 2 broken plays on TD's - but had ZERO pressures on Mahomes in the 1H.  Donut.

In the 2H, full credit to the coaching staff, they made 3 key adjustments:

1.   They basically conceded the run, and had guys drop back faster on 1st down.    KC had success with the run, but didn't stick with it.   That's a big Q on Reid's 2H adjustments.

2.  They mixed up their blitz / 3-man rush decisions.  The Mahomes 1st pick was off a zone blitz by the CB - and that forced Mahomes to make the decision a split second earlier than he probably wanted to.  They then dropped 3 men on a couple of plays, and ironically on the big last play in regulation sack by Hubbard, while he was spying Mahomes.   Main point - they were unpredictable.   KC couldn't just look for the default play vs. 4-man rush (which no doubt they had practiced and planned for a TON).

3.  They always had a spy on Mahomes, and when they rushed, they had great lane control, and edge control.   Mahomes broke free of the pocket maybe 3-4x - he did that almost ALL the time vs. PIT & BUF.   BUF's major failing in rushing Mahomes is they let him break free.


The spy and lane control were huge as the game wore on - but CIN basically took a page out of NE's book vs. Mahomes in 2018.    Giving the KC O different looks in the 2H for pass protection finally led to success.   Ultimately, it wasn't one thing - but the CIN coaching staff gets a LOT of credit for making adjustments at halftime. It was certainly needed. 

Edited by Broncofan
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