The Cincinnati Bengals spent the offseason loading up on defense, and five games in, you can see it. They have 17 sacks as a team, have allowed just five passing touchdowns (third-fewest in the league), and rank third in red-zone defense.
The run defense is another story: 5.0 yards per carry allowed, and Miami ran for 217 on Sunday. But this group has playmakers, and that makes this award a real debate.
Boye Mafe, DE: Three sacks, five tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. The pressure numbers have been even better than the sack total.
Dexter Lawrence, DT: Three sacks, five tackles for loss (tied with Mafe for the team lead) and six quarterback hits from the interior. Opposing offenses have to account for him on every snap, and that’s freed up everyone else up front.
Jonathan Allen, DT: Three sacks, four tackles for loss, six QB hits, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a pass defensed. He had a sack and a forced fumble in Miami alone.
Barrett Carter, LB: 41 tackles, 1.5 sacks, four tackles for loss, a forced fumble and two passes defensed. He’s been everywhere. Entering Week 6, his 16 stops were the 15th most among all NFL linebackers and lead the Bengals.
Let’s talk: Three defensive linemen with three sacks each. Which one has actually been the most disruptive when you watch the tape? And what’s the fix for a run defense giving up 5.0 yards a carry?
Sound off in the comments on your pick!