Over the past three weeks, the Cincinnati Bengals have been characterized by dominant offensive performances. In Week 4, the offense clicked again while they amassed 373 total yards in a game where quarterback Joe Burrow once again shone. Based on how the front office constructed this franchise, this is clearly a team built for high-scoring dramas like the contest on Sunday afternoon against former Cincinnati star Andy Dalton. If Cincinnati continues to play at this pace, the entire season will depend on how well the defense manages to hold teams in critical situations.
Cincinnati Bengals Offensive Tackle Improves After Week 3 Performance
While the offense led the way against Carolina again, the real story of this game was that rookie offensive tackle Amarius Mims officially logged the first start of his young professional career. After he was thrust into the game last week against Washington following the tragic knee injury to former starting right tackle Trent Brown, Mims managed to turn in a mixed performance with plenty of positives but also an allowed sack due to an overset on defensive end Dorance Armstrong. It is safe to say that while it was an adequate performance, there was plenty of room for improvement.
While he improved in his first official start at the right tackle position, Mims’ afternoon will certainly be remembered for the pressure he allowed on Burrow that forced the interception in the second half. In a similar play to where he allowed the sack in Week 3, Mims simply overset the defensive end and allowed the short path to the inside to apply pressure to the quarterback. Burrow was able to dodge the defender but the cumulative pressure from the defensive line forced him to make a bad decision and throw an easy pick to safety Xavier Woods.
Aside from the pair of pressures allowed by the 18th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Mims certainly improved week over week. His pass efficiency rating (the percentage of the time that he allowed no pressure to the quarterback in passing situations) increased from 94% to 97%, a dramatic increase. Mims also was a cog in the offense that scored 34 points against the usually stout Carolina defense.
Burrow would go on to comment on how Mims improved in his second week after an outstanding pass block where he ran the defensive end upfield opened up the touchdown pass to Ja’Marr Chase.
Joe Burrow went out of his way to shout out to Amarius Mims for his play today: pic.twitter.com/jQF8CAsAzl
— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) September 29, 2024
The Cincinnati Bengals have a franchise right tackle.
This touchdown was ELECTRIC but watch Amarius Mims on this play… pic.twitter.com/sa61RSuGpL
— Patrick Carey (@PatCareySports) September 29, 2024
While Mims’ play definitely took a step in the right direction, the ultimate test will be how the rookie performs in a critical division contest against the Baltimore Ravens next week.
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