CINCINNATI — The Bengals playoff push this season has a distinctively different feel, and many of the Bengals who have been around the last two seasons can sense it.
Beyond the obvious, that the Bengals don’t have Joe Burrow leading the charge to the postseason, there are other factors that make it clear that this year will be different.
First, the Bengals had to overcome a three-game losing streak, the longest since a five-game skid in 2020. Second, with the exception of Trey Hendrickson, DJ Reader and Sam Hubbard, the defense hasn’t quite been the lockdown unit it was in 2021 and ’22. And third, the Bengals have adjusted their offense to more of a balanced attack, not so reliant on explosive passing plays but rather complementary production from running backs and tight ends.
It definitely feels different in the locker room to most of those who have been around since 2021.
Tee Higgins “keep being us” and Bengals will be all good in the end. pic.twitter.com/ZElw896Hmm
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) December 14, 2023
“It’s a little different,” Tee Higgins admitted. “We’re not in the position we were in the past two years. We’re not in the position that we were the past two years. We’ve got a little bit more fighting to do but I mean same vibes, same vibes in locker rooms there was past two years. You just got to keep going to keep fighting and keep on keep playing Bengal football.”
Ja’Marr Chase echoed that same sentiment.
“I can say the energy was higher,” Chase noted. “We were more in a driver’s seat when we were in this position last time. It’s a little different so we gotta fight more this year. (That’s) the only difference.”
But asked about the character in the room to go from 5-6 and the loss of Joe Burrow to a playoff berth, Chase didn’t hesitate.
“I believe in every one of those guys out here,” Chase said. “That’s why they’re on this team. If they weren’t on this team, then I wouldn’t need to encourage them to do anything they doing now. So, it’s just one big team effort. Everyone’s on the same page, special teams, defense and offense that’s just got to lead.”
Chase and Higgins noted that Jake Browning has been more comfortable in the huddle the last two weeks, and it’s shown itself through his command of the offense and his confidence in his play-calling at the line of scrimmage.
“I believe in every one of the guys in here. That’s why they’re on this team.” Ja’Marr Chase says it’s all business this year trying to make playoffs pic.twitter.com/CDFGEBtiJQ
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) December 13, 2023
“Every game I’ve played has been big,” Browning said, referring to his limited chances to prove his value as an NFL quarterback. “Obviously for playoff implications, but I mean these are these are big games for me. It’s a short runway and I’m out there to prove (myself).
“I wasn’t some high draft pick here where it’s like, ‘Hey, this is your team. Here’s two or three years to figure it out.’ These starts are very important for me just building a resume and also for the playoff implications. So I don’t really know if I’ve experienced any time on the field that has just been super low stress, like not important. I’ve never really had that luxury. It’s been preseason games, you’re in a competition. It’s in practice. You only get four reps and practice on the scout team like those four reps feel very important. And so I think I’ve kind of gotten used to these games that have playoff implications and all that.”
Then there’s Jonah Williams, the starting right tackle.
“We’re confident as a group and confident as a unit,” Williams said. “I know we had really high expectations coming into this year and we still have those same belief in ourselves. We still have those same beliefs and those same goals. We have four games down the stretch where we have to elevate it up a notch. We’re playing some great teams. To get where we want to go, we really have to be on our game.”
Jonah Williams again spoke Wednesday about the surreal feel of trying to make a playoff run with the same quarterback he protected in high school games in Folsom, Calif., while also giving out a shout to their alma mater, which just captured a state championship to build “a little dynasty.” But one difference between Burrow and Browning comes in fashion, something Williams also noted.
“Well Joe’s a little bit more flashy,” Williams said. “You guys see it with the sunglasses and all that stuff. I don’t see Jake doing that but they’re both like personally like, you know confident but not not arrogant guys. Both great locker room guys. I joke that quarterbacks always have this sort of same demeanor where they’re just kind of like really cool, too cool for school sort of deal. And it ends up playing out in a success and I think to be an NFL quarterback with all the pressure on you. All the eyes on you have to have that, that’s something that Jake has too, obviously Joe as well. So it’s beneficial for him.”
Jonah Williams with the shoutout to Cordell Volson for running 17 MPH on Chase Brown’s 22 MPH TD Sunday vs. Colts. pic.twitter.com/m059zOCJO8
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) December 13, 2023
Turns out Chase Brown wasn’t the only one turning eyes with his 22 MPH sprint for a touchdown Sunday vs. the Colts. Starting left guard Cordell Volson had the entire offensive line section of the locker room talking about his 17.6 MPH jaunt on that play, a speed truly remarkable for a 300-pound offensive lineman, and demonstrating his incredible athleticism at 6-foot-7. “That’s pretty remarkable for a lineman. I want to give a shoutout to my guy. But 22 miles an hour is insane. (Brown) adds another element of speed.
