The Cincinnati Bengals have the most talented offense in the NFL, yet they struggle to punch the ball into the end zone in goal-to-go situations, ranking 24th in the league in goal-to-go efficiency.
The Bengals' offense, led by quarterback Joe Burrow and the league's best wide receiver duo in Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, is often left to pick its poison and hope for the best. However, even with this much talent, they can't seem to capitalize on drives that reach the opponent's 10-yard line.
According to Warren Sharp, 74% of all rushing touchdowns are scored from inside the 10-yard line, while 55% of all touchdowns come in goal-to-go situations. The Bengals' inability to succeed in these situations is puzzling, especially given Burrow's accuracy in goal-to-go situations.
Burrow has been the third-most accurate passer in goal-to-go situations over the past five seasons, yet the Bengals rank just 26th in EPA per play (-0.06) and 17th in success rate (44%). With a quarterback that accurate and receivers capable of winning quickly, Cincinnati should be able to spread defenses out and create favorable running lanes near the goal line.
The blame doesn't fall on the players alone. The Bengals' coaching staff, led by head coach Zac Taylor, will need to find a way to improve the offense's goal-to-go efficiency if they want to make a Super Bowl run.
Cincinnati spent the offseason improving the roster and positioning itself for a deep playoff run. But none of those moves will matter as much if the offense continues leaving points on the field. The Bengals need to turn more of those goal-to-go opportunities into touchdowns if they're serious about making a Super Bowl run.
The Bengals' inability to succeed in goal-to-go situations is a major concern, especially given the high stakes of the postseason. You can't settle for chip-shot field goals and expect to beat the NFL's best teams. The Bengals need to find a way to improve their goal-to-go efficiency if they want to make a deep playoff run.
Source: Yahoo Sports