The Cincinnati Bengals’ top players are having outstanding seasons.
Joe Burrow is leading the NFL in passing yards and touchdown passes, Ja’Marr Chase is on track to win a rare receiving triple crown, and Trey Hendrickson has more sacks than any other player.
This seems like it should lead to success for the team. But unfortunately for the Bengals, things have not turned out that way so far.
Cincinnati is stuck in 10th place in the AFC with a 4-7 record, even though they had a chance to become the first team since sacks became an official stat in 1982 to have the leaders in passing yards, receiving yards, and sacks in the same season.
Six of the Bengals’ losses have been by seven points or less. These close losses were due to missed field goals at crucial times, defensive mistakes, and the offense, led by Burrow, failing to score go-ahead touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
Burrow became the second quarterback in NFL history to lose back-to-back games while throwing for at least 350 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions in a 34-27 loss to the Chargers on Sunday night.
The Bengals came back from a 27-6 deficit to tie the game in the fourth quarter. But then, Evan McPherson missed two field goals, and the Bengals punted in the final minute, which allowed the Chargers to set up a game-winning drive.
Burrow has thrown for 3,028 yards, 27 touchdowns, and four interceptions this season. The seven other quarterbacks who threw for at least 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns with five or fewer interceptions in the first 11 games had a combined 69-8 record, while Burrow’s team is 4-7.
Burrow isn’t the only one putting up impressive numbers. Chase leads the NFL with 73 catches, 1,056 yards, and 12 touchdowns. Only four players since the merger have led the NFL in all three of those categories in a season to win the Triple Crown: Cooper Kupp (2021), Steve Smith (2005), Sterling Sharpe (1992), and Jerry Rice (1990).
Hendrickson has 11 1/2 sacks, the most by any player, ahead of Dexter Lawrence from the Giants and Nik Bonitto from Denver, who each have nine.
