The Cincinnati Bengals rank 10th in the league in points per game (25.6) through five weeks, and they’ve done it with almost no running game: 3.6 yards per carry as a team, with Zac Taylor’s season-low 23 rushing yards against Jacksonville. That means the passing game brought this offense. Here’s who did the carrying.
Joe Burrow, QB: 1,361 yards, 11 touchdowns, three interceptions, and an NFL-best 71.4% completion rate. He also took nine sacks behind a line that is still figuring things out. Through three games, his numbers almost exactly matched his pace in 2024, the year he led the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns.
Tee Higgins, WR: 27 catches, 423 yards, one touchdown. He led the team in passing yards with more than 130 and was a reliable option downfield, including 90 yards and a touchdown at Pittsburgh.
Ja’Marr Chase, WR: 27 catches, 289 yards and four touchdowns, despite missing most of the Jacksonville game with a concussion. He returned six days later and made a one-armed, 45-yard touchdown catch at Miami while being dug in at cornerback.
Mike Gesicki, TE: Only 12 catches, but they’ve already managed 159 yards and four touchdowns. One of every three Gesicki catches ended up in the end zone. That’s red-zone efficiency in a 31-year-old tight end.
Amarius Mims, OT: The mammoth right tackle has been outstanding this year. Some outlets credit him with no pressures or sacks allowed, while PFF has him as the 6th best pass-blocking tackle in the league today.
Higgins had more yards, but Chase had more touchdowns. Which number is more important to you? And should a quarterback be eligible for both Team MVP and Offensive MVP? Sound off in the comments with your winner!