"One big thing the Cincinnati Bengals did in 2021, when the team reached the Super Bowl, was something the best teams this season also had in common. They created big plays. Three of the four teams that reached this year's conference championships were among the league leaders in percentage of plays that gained 20 or more yards. That included the Seattle Seahawks, who took down the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX."
"But since that 2021 season, Cincinnati hasn't been nearly as explosive. The Bengals' rate of big plays has plummeted, even when quarterback Joe Burrow has been healthy. Opponents have limited Burrow's ability to find star receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins on downfield targets. And finding ways to manufacture those plays again could help the Bengals get back into the postseason."
""You can't just let teams double them and then say, 'Those guys are out of the game plan now,'" Burrow said at the end of last season. "They're too good of players to think that way. You still have to find ways to get them the ball." Burrow praised the way coach Zac Taylor and his staff have been able to find ways to get Chase and Higgins the ball."
The Bengals produced significant deep gains during their 2021 Super Bowl run, a trait shared by other top teams. Since 2021, Cincinnati's rate of plays gaining 20-plus yards has dropped markedly, even with Joe Burrow available. Opposing defenses have curtailed Burrow's opportunities to target Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins downfield. Burrow emphasized the need to continue finding ways to get the ball to those receivers despite doubled coverage. Chase and Higgins remained productive after contract extensions, with Chase posting a league-high 125 receptions on 185 targets and Higgins leading the AFC with 11 receiving touchdowns.
Read at ESPN.com
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