Since Joe Burrow joined the Cincinnati Bengals back in 2020, the team’s offense has ascended to being one of the most lethal in the NFL. That’s not to say that criticisms haven’t come to the group over the years, though, with the offensive line being the center of those gripes.
The embattled unit performed well last year, but another recent facet of the offense has come into focus: their inability to get big plays on early downs.
That issue hasn’t gone unnoticed by offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher, as evidenced by his recent comments at the 2026 NFL Combine.
Joe Burrow’s preference has largely been to operate out of spread and/or shotgun looks, assisting in his ability to process the defense’s pre-snap look. And, while it has been a historical offense in many senses, there have also been instances wherein the plays become a bit predictable.
The latter issue points to Pitcher’s quote on “more time under center”. The improved offensive line play last year hoping to carry over in 2026 (a Dalton Risner re-signing would be key) should help in this quest to put themselves into better late-down situations. Chase Brown’s continued development into one of the better backs in the NFL, as well as the possibility of adding even more offensive weapons this spring, could allow the offense to operate more under center and bring more explosiveness on early downs.
Another element of this approach might be the idea to limit the amount of defensive contact Burrow has received so far in his career. When he’s healthy, Burrow is arguably the top quarterback in the league. However, three major injuries over his six accrued seasons are becoming an unfortunate trend, and they need him to be healthy to fulfill their championship aspirations.
Cincinnati also faces some formidable defenses in 2026. Aside from the physicality of six games within the AFC North, the Bengals also square off against the Houston Texans, the Kansas City Chiefs, and Lou Anarumo’s Indianapolis Colts, so further embracing further offensive variation will be key to a playoff run.
Do you think the Bengals should operate more under center this year? What other positions should the star-studded offense look at this offseason to be as versatile as possible?
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