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Bengals’ Struggles Without Joe Burrow Reflected By Concerning Stat

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Brendan Howe | Last updated Sep 30, 2025 10:38 PM ET

The Cincinnati Bengals sorely need Joe Burrow. The numbers are beginning to show that.

Burrow, one of the NFL’s premier passers, suffered a turf toe injury during the Bengals’ Week 2 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars and is slated to be out until December at the earliest. Without him, things look bleak.

“The #Bengals have 200 rushing yards… as a team… in 4 games,” Ari Meirov wrote Tuesday on X. “For context: 24 players in the NFL have more than that on their own. As a team, the Bengals are averaging just 205.3 total yards per game. That’s the worst mark in the NFL.”

The Bengals have averaged just 3.9 yards per play, which grades out only in front of the Tennessee Titans, who aren’t good at all according to rookie quarterback Cam Ward’s assessment. Cincinnati has turned it over eight times, as well, which is tied for the most in the league.

The #Bengals have 200 rushing yards… as a team… in 4 games.

For context: 24 players in the NFL have more than that on their own.

As a team, the Bengals are averaging just 205.3 total yards per game. That’s the worst mark in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/9tCPYGDmBj
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 30, 2025

Other unimpressive marks include 56 first downs (tied for 32nd), 621 passing yards (30th) — despite having Ja'Marr Chase — and 2.6 yards per rushing attempt (32nd).

Chase Brown, the Bengals’ top tailback, has yet to top 50 rushing yards in a game this season. In Cincinnati’s 48-10 setback to the Minnesota Vikings, he could only muster three yards on 10 gives.

Despite sporting the third-least-productive rushing attack in the league last season, Zac Taylor believed he could count on Brown after he piled up 990 yards and seven touchdowns on 229 totes in 2024. That just hasn’t been the case to this point.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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