The Bengals had an explosive offensive last season, so what happened to it?

Cincinnati, Ohio When Joe Burrow led his offense on the field for the first time last Sunday afternoon at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Ohio, he was already in a very familiar and all-comfortable position.

   The Bengals went down 7-0 almost halfway through the first quarter and touched the ball offensively.

   Among other things, the offense got off to a slow start and the Bengals posted an 0-2 record to start the season.

   Cincinnati never held a lead in 130 minutes of in-game action, and the offense consistently played behind the chains.  And as a result, the defense has wreaked havoc on the Bengals for a large number of games, as the season prior to 2022 was one of the league's most explosive offenses.

   If we're at a manageable distance, it opens up our playbook,” Jonah Williams said.  It opens up their playbook if we're down and away for a long time.  You want to take away everything they want to do.  If you are in these long situations, they can do what they want to do.  So we should just stay in front of the sticks and do a good job without doing negative drama.

   The Bengals went 26 first downs in the Week 2 loss to the Cowboys, not including Burrows' half-kneeling.

   In those 26 plays, he averaged just 97 yards per game for an average of 3.73 yards.  Taken out of every base, that would be the worst mark on the half yardage in the league.  To that end, the Bengals are tied for 30th in the NFL at just 4.3 yards per game.

   On pass plays, of which there were 10, he averaged just 4.2 yards, including yards lost on sacks.  In his 16 rushing plays, he rushed for 2.11 yards per pop.

   Combined with four offensive penalties, two of which came on first downs, the Bengals have played hard and spaced in both of their games so far.

   When their quarterback gets off the field almost once per quarter, putting him on a positive play script hurts the Bengals' playoff chances.

   It changes when you're out of schedule and you're in second-and-15 or first-and-15, now you know you're throwing the ball," offensive coordinator Brian Callahan said. It is what it is. Now, they can play coverage.  And can run and do all the things they want to do at that point. That's an advantage for the defense.

   Those coverages, especially the two high-safari ones, limited the offense and slowed down a Bengals passing attack that was considered one of the best operations in the NFL.  The goal is to block big plays from their talented wide receivers, and it certainly works.