Defense falls short in forcing turnovers
The 29 points the Cincinnati Bengals’ defense allowed last Sunday in a loss at Pittsburgh were the most the group had given up in more than a year, dating to a 35-17 defeat at New England last Oct. 16.
And the 420 yards allowed were the most in 15 games, since Washington piled up 546 in a 27-27 tie in London on Oct. 30.
So it’s easy for the Bengals to shrug off the performance as a blip in what has otherwise been a solid defensive run.
But there was another troubling stat to come out of the Pittsburgh game that was not all that unusual — zero turnovers.
The Bengals have forced four all year, a franchise low for the fewest through the first six games of a season. The previous low was six in 2002, a team that finished 2-14.
“Our main concern is playing good defense; those things will come,” safety George Iloka said. “You can’t really press, but we do need to create turnovers. You know how the saying goes, whoever wins the turnover battle usually wins the game.”
The Bengals have yet to win the turnover battle, and as a result their margin is minus-9, which is tied for 30th in the NFL. Only winless Cleveland is worse, at minus-11.
“I think you just continue to work in practice and make an emphasis in practice, stripping the ball out, making interceptions,” defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said. “We make interceptions all the time in practice. You keep emphasizing it. You don’t want them to run out of place or take chances to try to get them, because you’re going to give up big plays that way.
All four of the turnovers this year, and each of the last 17 dating to last year, have been interceptions.
The Bengals have not recovered an opponent’s fumble since a loss at Dallas in week 5 last year. That’s a span of 17 games, a modern NFL record.
“It has been emphasized since last spring,” coach Marvin Lewis said. “It just has to come, and you have to take advantage of it. When it comes, hopefully the ball bounces your way.
“We certainly have had enough bounce the other way on offense, but haven’t had those same things bounce our way defensively.”
During the 17-game run, the Bengals have forced eight fumbles, only to have the opponent recover all eight.
“It happened in the Buffalo game right in front of me,” Guenther said. “We come down and hit the guy and the ball’s laying right there and then the left guard recovers it. That’s just the way it is.
“You just have to keep harping on it,” he added. “I know they’re tired of hearing it from me.”
The last fumble recovery the Bengals made came after Carlos Dunlap sacked Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and linebacker Vinny Rey fell on the ball.
That could be the recipe to ending the streak Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, who have allowed a league-high 29 sacks.