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Dexter Lawrence II and the Cincinnati Bengals’ defense have silenced their critics after starting the 2026 NFL season with two straight wins. The Bengals’ defense sacked Baker Mayfield four times and did not allow even one passing touchdown in the regular-season opener to secure a 33-27 win. The unit forced four turnovers, including three fumbles by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB.
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The defense looked even better in Week 2 during a 20-6 win over the Houston Texans. The Bengals did not allow a touchdown and gave up only two field goals. Lawrence led the defensive line and helped shut down Houston’s running game. The DT finished the game with three total tackles (2 solo and one assist), one tackle for loss, and one QB hit.
ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler admitted he underestimated the unit before the season. He credited the arrival of three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Lawrence for the defense’s turnaround.
“I was wrong about the Bengals defense. I expected it to improve from bad to middle-of-the-road. It’s better than that, at least through two games. A deep defensive front led by Dexter Lawrence II has changed the math for Cincinnati,” Fowler wrote.
The Bengals’ defense will aim to maintain its impressive form when it visits the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3 on Sunday.
Cincinnati’s offseason moves to fix defensive struggles
Cincinnati entered the 2026 offseason needing massive defensive changes after a brutal 2025 campaign. The unit ranked 31st in total defense and 32nd in rushing defense, giving up 380.9 yards per game and 60 total touchdowns.
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To improve the trenches, the Bengals traded the No. 10 pick to the New York Giants in April for Lawrence. The franchise also handed him a one-year, $28 million extension to keep him in Cincinnati through the 2028 season.
Lawrence was double-teamed on 71.3% of his pass-rush snaps in 2025. Two linemen focused on Lawrence are likely to help Allen and Mafe pressure quarterbacks without requiring heavy secondary blitzes.
The Bengals made several other major moves to improve their defense. They signed edge rusher Boye Mafe to a three-year, $60 million deal and added defensive tackle Jonathan Allen on a two-year, $25 million contract, worth up to $28 million, to join Dexter Lawrence on the defensive line.
Cincinnati also signed safety Bryan Cook to a three-year, $40.25 million deal, while Kyle Dugger and cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor were added on one-year contracts. The Bengals also used a second-round pick on Texas A&M pass rusher Cashius Howell, giving defensive coordinator Al Golden another option in the pass rush.
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This story was originally published September 23, 2026 at 11:45 AM.