DC Lou Anarumo: Despite A Win Bengals Missed An Important Stat In Week 3

In a tight game, Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo outcoached Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, leading to a 19-16 Bengals victory. Despite a hampered quarterback and offensive issues, the Bengals’ defence came up and limited the Rams to less than 300 yards, broke their rhythm, and forced two turnovers.

With this loss, McVay’s play-calling abilities have been called into doubt, since the Rams were unable to overcome a club with a hurt quarterback. This loss may have an influence on the Rams’ chances in the wildcard battle, emphasizing the necessity of McVay’s ability to make changes.

Since the Week 16 game in 2017, there have been only five instances where a team has held its opponent without a third-down conversion on at least 11 attempts.

  • The Patriots held the Colts to 0 for 14 in a 26-3 win in 2022.
  • The Dolphins limited the Saints to 0 for 12 in a 20-3 win in 2021.
  • The Steelers stymied the Bengals to the tune of 0 for 13 in a 36-10 win in 2020.
  • The Patriots blanked the Jets on 12 tries in a 30-14 win in 2019.
  • The Patriots also held the Jets to 0 for 12 in a 26-6 win in 2017, three weeks after Anarumo and the Dolphins did it to the Patriots.

DC Lou Anarumo: Despite A Win Bengals Missed An Important Stat In Week 3

The Rams were all over the place all night. Quarterback Matthew Stafford completed 18 of 33 passes for 269 yards and a touchdown, but the yardage totals obscured the truth of the Week 3 game. Anarumo consistently took away his initial read and let his talent win the day. Stafford’s sack seemed impending every time he held onto the football.

In the win, Cincinnati had six sacks. Some were brilliantly timed blitzes that delivered Stafford a free rusher. The Bengals’ defensive line just dominated at times. Cincinnati also achieved success by being disciplined in the face of McVay’s misdirections. They were able to easily detect screens and fit the run, limiting Williams to less than four yards per attempt.

In the midst of the craziness, Lou Anarumo had no idea what was going on Monday night. About 36 hours later, the Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator expressed disappointment that such a rare chance had passed him by.

“I knew at halftime that we were doing well,” Anarumo explained. “Obviously, I look at the halftime sheet just to see what the targets are, but to be honest, I did not realize until the last third down where they were at.”

The Rams were 0 for 10 on third downs with 1:06 remaining in the game.

“Those are the kind of things you don’t want to say in the headset and jinx yourself,” Anarumo stated. “It’s like saying, ‘we’ve got a no-hitter.'”

Then, with two outs in the ninth, Matthew Stafford’s one-yard touchdown pass to Tutu Atwell must have felt like giving up a bloop single to break up a no-hitter.

“Those are extremely rare opportunities,” Anarumo stated.

Since Anarumo took over as coach in 2019, the Bengals have never held a team without a single third-down convert, but they have come close.

They restricted the Raiders to one of seven field goals in 2021, while they held the Dolphins to one of ten in a game the Bengals lost in 2020.

 

 

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