INglewood, CA – FEBRUARY 13: Cincinnati Bengals #91 Shane Trey Hendrickson Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams in the first quarter during Super Bowl LV at SoFi Stadium on February 13, 2022 in Englewood, California. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Cincinnati Bengals got hot in late 2021 and ended up in Super Bowl LVI. One of the team’s free agent pickups in their last off-season season was a major reason for that.
A year after finishing 4-11-1 during coach Zack Taylor’s second season at Queen City, the Cincinnati Bengals returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2015. With a strong postseason, thanks to their first franchise after winning since 1990, it’s over. With the team to appear for the third time in the Super Bowl and the first since 1988.
Yes, Taylor Club couldn’t stop Rams wide receiver Cooper Cobb in the closing minutes of Super Bowl LVI. Then again, many teams didn’t stop the All-Pro Championship in 2021. But for those who think the Bengals’ near-NFL title was just a game off the field and a pick-up between year two quarterback Joe Burrow and NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Ja ‘ Mar Chase, here’s some food for thought.
In 2020, Cincinnati’s defense ranked 26th in the league in yards allowed. The club allowed the fourth-most impulsive space in the NFL. Taylor’s club managed to get 17 sacks in 16 competitions.
Enter the defensive end of free agent Trey Hendrickson, who enjoyed a breakthrough year with the Saints in ’20 via 13.5 sacks in 15 outings. The Bengals signed him in a lucrative four-year deal worth $60 million last season (via Spotrac). It changed the mentality of the Cincinnati front and arguably the entire defense.
Hendrickson played in 16 matches and participated in 14 matches. There were 34 tackles, 14 best Shawwals and three mandatory holdouts. Added 3.5 QB traps during Cincinnati Four postseason running games. He was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time. Finally, the Bengals improved to fifth in the NFL against the Tour and came away with an impressive 42 sacks in 17 games.
As we saw in the second half of Super Bowl LVI, defense still rules the day when it comes to lifting the Lombardi Cup (see Aaron Donald and Von Miller in the backcourt of the Bengals). Hendrickson drove a Harassment of a defensive unit That sought to improve high school this season. These new defenders should be delighted with this young lead leading the way in front of them.
[ad_2]
