You know in Need for Speed when you’re losing a race and you’re just waiting for your nitrous speed boost to reload so you can hit that button and get back on top? That’s what the Cincinnati Bengals did when they brought Joe Burrow back into the fold on Thanksgiving.
They got a nitrous jolt right in the arm as they not only won 32-14 to push their record to 4-8, but they beat the division-rival Baltimore Ravens to drop them to 6-6. After all that they have endured this season, Cincinnati is just two games out of a division title.
And Burrow’s return, of course, has a lot to do with that. It doesn’t just make the team better practically—he is one of the best QBs in the game—but also gives everyone in the building more hope that they can return to the playoffs for the first time since 2022.
There’s just one thing: Cincy’s defense is historically bad. And that’s not just because of a lack of talent and poor coaching, but because of injuries too. Most notably at the edge rusher position, where Pro Bowler Trey Hendrickson (hip) is expected to miss his fifth straight game next Sunday in a Week 14 matchup with the Bills in Buffalo.
Trey Hendrickson already doubtful for this weekend against Buffalo, according to Zac Taylor.
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) December 1, 2025
Says he is mostly working with trainers behind scenes. As for future return, still taking it “week to week.”
Getting a report like that about a player six days before the game is to be played is pretty disheartening. It would be a shock, nay, a miracle, if Hendrickson ended up suiting up for a contest after being listed as “doubtful” on the Monday of game week.
The Bengals defense could go down as one of the 5 worst in NFL history
Hendrickson’s absence has been felt by Cincinnati. Not just because he’s gone, but because his potential successor, first-round rookie Shemar Stewart (knee), has also been battling injuries. The youngster, who had contract issues with the Bengals during the offseason just like Hendrickson did, has been on IR since Week 10 and has played in just five games this season.
And while the Bengals have rushed the passer semi-well over the last few weeks, they still rank tied for second-last in the NFL with just 18 QB takedowns this season.
They are also giving up the most points per game (31.2), yards per game (410.0), yards per play (6.3), and first downs per game in the NFL (22.8). At their current pace, they’d have the third-worst unit by points allowed and the second-worst by yards allowed since the 16-game season was implemented.
They’re bad everywhere too: They allow the most passing yards per game in the NFL (256.8) and the second-most rushing yards (153.3).
When you can’t pressure the QB in this modern age of the NFL, offenses can basically do as they please. And that’s what everyone from Carson Wentz to Justin Fields to Aaron Rodgers has done against this Bengals team in 2025.
Joe Burrow is back. And that’s huge. But without someone stepping up on the defensive edge to replace the losses of a Pro Bowler and a first-round pick, it’s going to be three straight years with no postseason in the Cincinnati jungle.