The Bengals Have NOTHING To Worry About After Week 1...

The Cincinnati Bengals are 1-0, but two of their biggest stars didn't exactly light up the box score. Ja'Marr Chase finished Week 1 with just two catches for 12 yards, while Dexter Lawrence failed to record a sack or tackle for loss in his Bengals debut. So should Bengals fans be worried? John Sheeran explains why the answer is no. The box score doesn't tell the full story. Ja'Marr Chase may not have put up his usual elite numbers against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but his impact was still felt throughout the game. John breaks down why Chase's presence alone forced Tampa Bay to account for him defensively, creating opportunities for other Bengals receivers like Mike Gesicki. The Buccaneers consistently adjusted their coverage around Chase, and that attention helped open up the rest of Cincinnati's passing attack. There were also multiple moments where Chase was still winning his matchups. John explains why Chase was still getting open, how Cincinnati designed plays to get him involved and why Bengals fans should not overreact to one quiet statistical performance. The second half of the breakdown focuses on Dexter Lawrence. The numbers don't jump off the page. No sacks. No tackles for loss. One solo tackle. But the tape tells a completely different story. John breaks down how Lawrence consistently disrupted Tampa Bay's interior offensive line, generated pressure on Baker Mayfield and helped create opportunities for players around him. Lawrence's impact helped free up teammates like Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe and Myles Murphy, allowing the Bengals defensive line to make game-changing plays. This is the type of performance where a star player impacts the game without dominating the stat sheet. John also explains why this should actually encourage Bengals fans moving forward. The Bengals don't need Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and Dexter Lawrence to have perfect games every week in order to win. They now have enough talent around their stars to survive when their best players have quieter performances. Are Ja'Marr Chase's Week 1 numbers a concern? Was Dexter Lawrence actually dominant against Tampa Bay? And why should Bengals fans feel encouraged after Cincinnati's season opener? John Sheeran breaks down the film and explains why Bengals fans should not panic after Week 1. Subscribe to A to Z Sports Cincinnati for Bengals news, game analysis, player breakdowns, injury updates and everything you need throughout the 2026 NFL season. #Bengals #CincinnatiBengals #WhoDey #NFL 0:00 Ja'Marr Chase and Dexter Lawrence did NOT play badly 1:06 Why the box score is misleading 1:55 Ja'Marr Chase only had 2 catches... should Bengals fans worry? 2:47 The plays that show Chase was still winning 4:07 How Chase helped other Bengals receivers 5:15 Dexter Lawrence's quiet box score 7:03 Why Dexter Lawrence actually dominated 8:29 How Lawrence helped the entire Bengals defense 9:22 The Bengals don't need perfect games from their stars 10:14 Final thoughts before Week 2 Make A to Z Sports your preferred source on Google: https://google.com/preferences/source?q=atozsports.com Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: https://atozsports.com/games For more Bengals coverage: https://atozsports.com/nfl/cincinnati-bengals-news/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BengalsFans4Life Twitter/X: https://x.com/AtoZSportsNFL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atozsportsbengals/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@atozsportsbengals #CincinnatiBengals #Bengals #BengalsFootball #WhoDey #NFL #NFLFootball