Cincinnati Bengals: Massive Roster Management Blunder May Have Cost Them Kansas City Chiefs Game

The Cincinnati Bengals and head coach Zac Taylor fell to the Kansas City Chiefs for the third time in a row after going 3-0 against them since 2021.

The week-two matchup came down to the wire as the Chiefs required a controversial defensive pass interference call on 4th and 16 as well as a 51-yard last-second field goal to get the win.

Reasons for the outcome are up for debate, but it is safe to say minor gameplan changes could’ve easily changed the outcome of the game.

The Cincinnati Bengals were thin on the defensive line and the Kansas City Chiefs took advantage

Heading into the 2024 season, the Bengals were already suffering on the interior of their defensive line after losing elite run-stopper D.J. Reader in free agency.

The Bengals made an effort to replace Reader in the aggregate with the signing of defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins and the drafting of defensive tackles Kris Jenkins and McKinnley Jackson. Jenkins and Jackson were already injured going into the game, but Rankins and fellow defensive tackle B.J. Hill left the game injury due to injuries sustained during the game.

The Bengals were left with backups Jay Tufele and Zach Carter on the interior. They were so thin that defensive end Sam Hubbard was filling in on the inside despite his lack of size.

The Chiefs took advantage, finishing the game with more rushing yards than star QB Patrick Mahomes had passing yards. The Chiefs were averaging nearly five yards a carry and 65.6% of those carries were in between the tackles.

The lack of interior defensive line depth allowed the Chiefs to pull out a win despite Mahomes playing one of the worst games of his career. His 151-yard passing effort was the lowest of any complete game in his career.

One-man wrecking crew Trey Hendrickson had a career game on the edge and almost singlehandedly won the game for the Bengals. His impact could’ve been even greater if the line had to respect an interior pass rush more. Mahomes had high praise for Hendrickson in an article from the Bengals’ website.

“He’s just an absolute monster. Just his motor, the way he’s able to rush the passer,” Mahomes said. “I remember playing him in New Orleans and he was like that and then he got to Cincinnati (and) he’s been like that. He did a great job today. He’s great against the run and the pass, kind of an underrated guy. It was a good test for us, and we’ll have to get better for it.”

Why was the Cincinnati Bengals DL so thin heading into the Kansas City Chiefs game?

The thinness of the Bengals defensive line heading into the Chiefs game was puzzling, especially when defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo likes to stop Mahomes by getting a pass rush with his four defensive linemen and daring the Chiefs to run, thus taking the ball out of Mahomes’ hands.

According to edge rusher Joseph Ossai, backup defensive tackle Zach Carter ended up playing 15 snaps in a row, which is extremely unusual for an interior defensive lineman in the NFL. Carter was in on the 4th and 16 play that set up the field goal, and he might’ve contributed to a better outcome had he been on fresh legs.

“A little rough. Tired,” Ossai said. “But we had guys like (tackle) Zach Carter playing 15 snaps in a row. I’m not going to complain.”

They almost never throw that flag in Hail Mary situations and I think this 4th and 16 was a similar situation. It’s a jump-ball and the defender is playing the football. Isn’t that what they want? https://t.co/snsYL1wqbP pic.twitter.com/y84nmBFGYf

— Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) September 16, 2024

It turns out that tight end Tanner Hudson, who is one of four Bengals tight ends, was taking up a spot on the roster despite being injured. Hudson had an abysmal showing in week one, fumbling a ball on the one-yard line and essentially costing the Bengals a chance to win.

Hudson didn’t even go through pregame warmups, but he had a roster spot in lieu of defensive lineman Cedric Johnson, who was a healthy scratch. Johnson would’ve certainly given Bengals defensive linemen a rest at the least if he were on the roster.

Hudson is the backup long snapper and Charlie Goldsmith of The Enquirer thinks that is why he took up a roster spot.

Yesterday, the Bengals kept an injured Tanner Hudson (knee) on the active game day roster. Hudson did not play a snap, go through pregame warmups with the tight ends or stand on the sideline with the offensive players who were subbing in and out. It’s possible that Hudson was…

— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) September 16, 2024

One more sack/pressure from the Bengals or one less first down for the Chiefs could’ve easily resulted in a Bengals win. Johnson’s presence on the active gameday roster could’ve been the difference between 1-1 and 0-2 for the Bengals.

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