The Cincinnati Bengals were desperate for a win in Week 6 against the New York Giants. The orange and black were ironically uneven on the offensive front and this time, the defense was fantastic in propelling the team to victory 17-7. The much-maligned defensive line were the real winners and Lou Anarumo’s front four were healthy for the first time all season. Applying pressure and stopping the run has been the Achilles heel thus far for this group, but yesterday, they did their job. The secondary was the biggest beneficiary of this solid play and they mostly held a limited Giants offense in check for four quarters. Let’s examine three players who could play a large role in getting the Bengals season back on track.
A Healthy Bengals Defensive Line Shows Promise in Week 6
B.J. Hill
The star of the show for Cincinnati’s defense was Hill in what was a homecoming as he played for the Giants from 2018-2020. Hill’s impact couldn’t have come at a better time for the Bengals as he missed several weeks along with running mate Sheldon Rankins, who were both dealing with hamstring issues. Hill was masterful in pushing the pocket all night and had a huge play in the first quarter when New York was driving.
Former N.C. State DT BJ Hill deflects the pass and former Wolfpack linebacker Germaine Pratt comes down with the pick! #PackPros pic.twitter.com/JeG0WjURrg
— Cory Smith (@RCorySmith) October 14, 2024
Hill would lead the defense with a 78.5 grade from PFF and had seven total tackles (3 SOLO), two passes defended, and two quarterback hits.
Head coach Zac Taylor knows how important it is to have a healthy defensive line when he stated after the game, “I thought they did a great job getting pressure on the quarterback. And so, I’m just really proud of the way the defense played. The players, the coaches, the way that they fought all week, and put on a performance like this was special.”
Sheldon Rankins
The Bengals acquired Rankins this offseason as a free agent from the Houston Texans and signed him to a two-year, $26 million deal. The front office hoped he could work well next to Hill to provide valuable snaps as a run stuffer and pocket mover. This game was the first glimpse of what this tandem could become if they can stay the course and remain healthy. He seemed to add an effective spin move to his pass-rushing repertoire and Cincinnati will increase his snap count incrementally as he played 42 snaps (53%) last night.
Trey Hendrickson
The most important defensive player for the Bengals is the menace, Trey Hendrickson. He has been the most consistent force along the defensive line since he arrived in Cincinnati in 2021. He added another two sacks to his season total of five and his relentless motor is his hallmark of winning. Hendrickson was one-on-one all night against the Giants’ star left tackle Andrew Thomas and added a wrinkle by playing more on the inside of the quarterback.
You're not talking about Trey Hendrickson enough
Watch what the former FAU Owl just did to Andrew Thomaspic.twitter.com/J335CcUGQd
— All-22 (@All22_PFF) October 14, 2024
If the men in stripes want to get back in the AFC North race and start stacking wins, they will need their defensive line to light the way. The performance on Sunday was a great place to start.
Main Photo: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
