With Parsons, Cowboys looming, Bengals OL must play better

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) drops back as the offensive line blocks during the first quarter of a Week 1 NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelersat Paycor Stadium. Kareem Elgazzar-USA TODAY Sports

With Micah Parsons and Cowboys looming, Bengals offensive line must play better

By Aaron Becker | Last updated 9/12/22

In Cincinnati's 23-20 overtime loss in Week 1, the Bengals offensive line was overwhelmed by Pittsburgh's pass rush. The revamped unit, ranked No. 8 by Pro Football Focus in the preseason, played like a lower-tier unit, allowing seven sacks and 11 quarterback hits on quarterback Joe Burrow.

Former NFL offensive lineman Brian Baldinger showed how the Steelers wrecked the line:

.@Steelers this smells like great defense. Joe Burrow doesn’t wanna see this defense for awhile. Defensive front crushed the rebuilt Bengal O-line. Benefit of long hard days in Latrobe this summer #BaldysBrealdowns pic.twitter.com/mOZ4sDA5SQ
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) September 12, 2022

Cincinnati must get the issues fixed fast. In Week 2, the Bengals face the Cowboys and reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Micah Parsons, who sacked Tom Brady twice Sunday.

Cincinnati's top offseason priority was to rebuild its offensive line, which allowed 70 sacks in 2021 (counting three postseason games). The Bengals added guard Cordell Volson in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft and center Ted Karras, guard Alex Cappa and tackle La'el Collins through free agency.

If Cincinnati's line continues to struggle, the Bengals might adapt a quick-pass approach to avoid starting 0-2. History has shown that an 0-2 start makes it much more difficult to make the playoffs.

From 2002 to 2021, only 12.5 percent of teams that started 0-2 made it to the playoffs or would have under the current 14-team playoff format, according to ESPN's Bill Barnwell.

Although the playoffs expanded last season to 14 teams, no team that started 0-2 made the postseason, making it vital for Cincy to figure out its OL issues fast.

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