Cincinnati Bengals Face Playoff Uncertainty

The Cincinnati Bengals are standing 16th in the American Football Conference with a 3-14 record, on a L2 streak, heading into the 2026 season.

What is the fatal flaw?

Mark Schlereth, a 3x Super Bowl Champ, believes the Bengals' propensity to play in shotgun formation is a problem, citing their low percentage of plays under center.

The Bengals lined up under center the third-fewest times in the league in the 2024 season, with just 168 snaps.

Why does it matter for Cincinnati Bengals?

Joe Burrow has operated from the shotgun on 92% of his dropbacks under Zac Taylor, the third-highest rate in the league, which may affect the offense.

When a quarterback operates from the shotgun and uses play action, he exposes the ball to defenders while handing it off to the running back.

What comes next?

The Bengals will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 13, 2026, and it will be worth watching whether Joe Burrow begins playing more from under center.

And the Bengals' offense has relied heavily on the passing game, with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins leading the wide receiver room.

But the team's reliance on shotgun formation may hinder their playoff chances, according to Schlereth.

So the Bengals will need to adjust their strategy if they want to make a deep run in the playoffs.

The Bengals' next game is vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers on 2026-09-13.