The Bengals couldn’t stop anyone this season. They needed a new voice on the defensive end. In came the Defensive Coordinator from Notre Dame, Al Golden.

Can Golden Make This Defense A Formidable One?

The Bengals defense wasn’t great in 2024. They were 25th in Opponents Points per game, allowing 25.5. Cincinnati was also near the bottom of the league in opponents’ yards per game, giving up 348.3, which put them at 25th.

The Bengals just needed someone to inject life into their defense. They didn’t come up with the big stops when they needed to. With all the close games the Bengals played this year, a mediocre defense even could’ve allowed them to win a few.

Al Golden, former defensive coordinator at Notre Dame, is the perfect guy for them.

At Notre Dame, he led a historically good defense. They were third in points per game allowed, letting their opponent only put up 15.5. The Irish also didn’t give up much yardage as they ranked tenth, allowing 307.8 yards. These stats look good on paper, but he needs to show that they are, for real, at the next level. Al Golden has what it takes and is what the Bengals need on the defensive side of the ball.

Will All Golden’s Defensive Prowess Translate To The NFL?

NFL football is a different beast compared to college football. The defenses are bigger, faster, and stronger than ever. The main question is: Can Al Golden Make the necessary adjustments and still have a great defense? That certainly will be something to watch as the season progresses in the latter half of this year.

At the college level, he seemed to adjust nicely to what opposing offenses were drawing up against him. The NFL certainly will be a step up in talent so we will see if he can handle it or if the moment is too much for him. Al Golden was previously the linebackers coach in Cincinnati in 2021.

They ranked fifth against the rush that year. There will be questions as he doesn’t have direct defensive coordinating experience. Many will be asking if he is the right guy for the job. The Bengals think so, and he has the statistics to prove it. They love him in Cincinnati, and he feels right at home.

Joe Burrow & The Offense Will Expect The Defense To Improve

The Bengals fans hope he is the key to solving their defensive struggles. They have a good enough offense with MVP candidate Joe Burrow as a quarterback and triple-crown winner Jamarr Chase as wide receiver.

It was quite impressive how many one-score games the Bengals lost last season. Cincinnati lost seven one-score games this season. If a few of those had won, they might be in the playoffs. The offense certainly did their part; they scored over 30 points in four games, but all were losses.

End Of My Bengals Rant

That truly tells you something about their defense. The fact that a team can score over 30 points in four games and not win one is telling. A change in the defensive coaching staff was undoubtedly needed, so this isn’t a surprise.

The Bengals’ defense can make incremental improvements with Al Golden as DC. They could be a playoff team next season, with Joe Burrow and Jamarr Chase leading the offense. Defensive End Trey Hendrickson also could have a massive year if they can afford to pay him the bag, and their cornerbacks need to step it up. The Bengals should have a better defense next season with an incredible defensive coordinator on their side.