Bengals' Defense Shines as Red Zone Effort Comes Up Short

The Cincinnati Bengals’ defense made significant strides in its performance against the Arizona Cardinals, holding the seventh-ranked passing offense to a season-low 213 yards through the air. While the team’s back-end unit struggled in the fourth quarter, allowing some crucial third downs and short-yardage opportunities for Arizona, the overall effort showcased significant improvement from previous outings. The Bengals’ defense was able to establish a strong presence in the red zone, limiting the Cardinals to just two touchdowns despite numerous scoring opportunities. Meanwhile, the team’s run defense continued to be a bright spot, holding the Cardinals to an average of 3.2 yards per carry and stifling their ground game throughout the contest. Despite some late-game struggles against Arizona’s backups, the Bengals’ defense demonstrated significant growth and promise, setting the stage for a promising stretch in the second half of the season.