Bengals Defense Worse Than We Thought? Broncos Storm Back To Beat Giants, Chiefs Best Team In NFL?

On today's edition of The Stone Shields Show we discuss why the Bengals defense might be even worse than we thought, go around the NFL and discuss the Broncos crazy comeback win against the Giants and the Eagles bounce back win against the Vikings. Also we go around college football and break down Alabama's impressive win over Tennessee, Notre Dame's win over USC and Georgia's win over Ole Miss. 

The Cincinnati Bengals' defense has been a glaring weakness in the 2025 NFL season, exacerbating issues from their historically poor 2024 performance. Entering the year under scrutiny after ranking 25th in total yards allowed last season, the unit has regressed further, allowing 30.5 points per game compared to 25.5 in 2024. Key metrics highlight the decline: opponents average 6.1 yards per play (up from 5.4), 36.8 yards per drive (from 32.3), and 2.65 points per drive (from 2.27). Sacks have dropped to 1.57 per game from 2.11, tackles for loss to 3.14 from 4.23, and the team has forced just one fumble through seven games versus 10 last year. The defense struggles against both run (4.7 yards per rush allowed) and pass, with starting field position worsening to the 33-yard line. Youth and inexperience play a role, as the Bengals prioritize playing time for emerging talents like Myles Murphy and Shemar Stewart, leading to inconsistent pressure and blown coverages. Preseason woes, including vanilla schemes earning poor grades, foreshadowed these problems. Trading sack leader Trey Hendrickson amid contract disputes threatens to make an already bad unit "generational bad," potentially derailing playoff hopes despite a potent offense. Overall, lack of turnovers, pressure, and veteran stability has held back the team, forcing high-scoring shootouts to compete.

In a stunning Week 7 thriller on October 19, 2025, the Denver Broncos orchestrated one of the NFL's greatest comebacks, erasing a 19-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the New York Giants 33-32. Shut out through three quarters, Denver exploded for 33 points in the final frame—the most ever scored in a quarter by a team blanked earlier—setting a record for such scenarios. Quarterback Bo Nix led the charge, throwing for multiple touchdowns and engineering rapid drives that exploited Giants' fatigue and defensive lapses. Key plays included a Tracy touchdown early in the rally, followed by a barrage of scores that improved Denver's record to 5-2 under coach Sean Payton. The Broncos played with extra motivation, channeling "Mile High Magic" in a nod to franchise history. New York's collapse, marked by zero fourth-quarter points after dominating early, highlighted their inability to close out games, dropping them further in the standings. This wild finish underscored Denver's resilience and Nix's poise in high-pressure moments.

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