Bengels lead NFL in passing dominance

The Cincinnati Bengals lead the National Football League in passing volume this season, completing 64.7% of their plays with a forward pass. This rate ranks second in the league overall but would rank first if analysts removed garbage time drives from the final four weeks. The team’s approach has shifted so heavily toward the air attack that running the ball has become a secondary option, used primarily for efficiency rather than strategy.

Quarterback Joe Burrow leads the NFL in completion percentage, passing yards per game, touchdowns per game, and dropback success rate. He also ranks second in quarterback rating. Against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Burrow completed 38 of 48 passes for 462 yards. In the fourth quarter and overtime, he completed 17 of 20 passes, with 14 of those completions gaining at least nine yards. The Bengals ran the ball only three times during that stretch, totaling six yards.

Coach Zac Taylor attributes the success to the specific skill set of Burrow and the receiving corps. "We have the most accurate and process-driven quarterback that exists, and we have the best receiving corps that there is in the league," Taylor said. He noted that the team distributes the football effectively because Burrow can place receivers in advantageous positions. The offense features Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins as primary targets, with tight ends and running backs like Mike Gesicki and Chase Brown serving as impact secondary options.

Offensive Coordinator Dan Pitcher explained that the strategy relies on Burrow’s ability to process defenses quickly. "The only way you can do that is if you have a quarterback who can process and decide like Joe processes and decides," Pitcher said. The offensive line has improved its pass protection over the years, allowing the team to plan complex blocking schemes for known passing downs. This development enables the Bengals to throw the ball from the shotgun 36 times per game, the highest rate in the league.

Defenses play the Bengals differently because of the threat posed by Chase and Higgins. Opposing teams deploy two-high coverages more frequently against Cincinnati than any other offense. Defenses often treat second downs like third downs, using exotic packages to stop the deep ball. This forces the Bengals to rely on quick, efficient throws to stay ahead of the schedule. The team has the highest pass rate on first downs in the league at 60.8%, a mark that ranks second for this decade.

The reliance on passing has reduced the use of under-center plays. In Week 7 against the Baltimore Ravens, the Bengals ran 11 under-center plays, averaging 2.4 yards per rush. Against the Titans in Week 8, they ran nine such plays, averaging three yards per rush. Pitcher acknowledged that the team continues to work on the running game but emphasized that the unit is uniquely suited for its passing approach. "That’s Line 1 and 2 of the offense. How do you let those guys go change a football game?" he asked.

The strategy carries risk due to the high number of dropbacks required from the offensive line. Burrow was pressured 14 times on Sunday and threw three interceptions. Despite the mistakes, the positive plays outweighed the negatives. The continuity of the roster, with Burrow, Taylor, Chase, and Higgins in Cincinnati for several years, allows for nuanced play design. The team recently used a fake screen play to set up a deep touchdown pass to Gesicki, demonstrating the variety in the passing attack.

The Bengals will return to their pass-heavy system in upcoming games. The team aims to balance the risk of frequent dropbacks against the benefit of exploiting elite talent. Taylor noted that the offense continues to move receivers around to create separation. "You’re not just able to locate where they’re at," Taylor said. The Bengals plan to maintain this aggressive passing strategy while continuing to refine other phases of the offense.