Let me kick things off with what might sound like a bold statement: I don’t think the Cincinnati Bengals’ defense is *that* bad. The real story is that Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens’ offense are *that* good.
MVPs are going to shine when it matters most, and that’s exactly what Jackson did in the second half on Thursday night.
So, what’s really going wrong with the Bengals’ defense? Is it missed tackles? Big plays in the passing game? Or maybe it’s the fact that Rob Livingston isn’t around anymore?
**Rob Livingston?** Yes, you heard that right. The former Bengals secondary coach is now the defensive coordinator at Colorado, and under his leadership, the Buffaloes’ defense has made a huge leap forward. Meanwhile, the Bengals’ defense? It’s regressed. So here’s the question: Could Rob Livingston be the key to fixing the Bengals’ defense in 2025?
For this to happen, a few things would need to fall into place. First, Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders would likely need to leave Colorado for another head coaching job. With Shedeur Sanders, Coach Prime’s son, projected to be a high draft pick next year, it’s a real possibility.
Second, the Bengals would have to make the tough decision to part ways with current defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. Cincinnati loves continuity, but sometimes a fresh approach is needed. With key defensive pieces gone, Anarumo’s defense just hasn’t looked the same since its peak in 2021 and 2022.
Now, let’s talk about Colorado’s defense. This season, the Buffaloes are ranked 51st in points allowed per game (22.6), a massive improvement from last year when they ranked 124th, giving up a whopping 34.8 points per game. They’ve also cut down on yards allowed by over 100 yards per game.
In comparison, the Bengals were ranked 21st in scoring defense last year (22.6 points per game) and 31st in yards allowed. This season, they’re 26th in points allowed (26.2) and 22nd in yards allowed. While they’ve shown slight improvement in yardage, giving up 30+ points in four games this year is still unacceptable. And here’s the kicker: The Bengals have scored 30+ points in three of those four high-scoring losses.
I watched Colorado’s defense up close when they hosted Cincinnati two weeks ago. Their man coverage is elite—and with Livingston’s background as a secondary coach, he could be exactly what the Bengals need to get their secondary back to being one of the NFL’s best.
The answer to the Bengals’ defensive struggles might just be sitting in Boulder, Colorado. Maybe we’ve forgotten just how talented Rob Livingston is as a coach—and how much he could elevate Cincinnati’s defense to the next level.
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