No NFL team has allowed more points than the Cincinnati Bengals have this season. They enter their Week 15 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, allowing an average of 31.8 points per game.
Last year, the Bengals ranked 25th in points allowed, so they moved on from defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who has since landed in the same role with the Indianapolis Colts. So, what’s changed?
The biggest difference would be the change in defensive coordinators, with Indianapolis now employing Al Golden as their playcaller on defense. One might assume that the Bengals’ defensive struggles would make them uninterested in bringing Golden back for another season in 2026, but that may not be the case at all.
Recently, ESPN’s Dan Graziano took a look at Cincinnati’s situation on defense, and he came away with the belief that the Bengals may very well opt to keep Golden around for another season, if not more.
“I’m interested to see what the Bengals do on defense. Do they give Al Golden a second year as coordinator, or are we looking at another scheme change? The way they feel their linebackers have improved as the season has progressed makes me think they’ll run it back with Golden and add players he thinks fit his system. I always wonder if the Bengals will get creative with a player-for-player trade and bring in someone like Thibodeaux or Byron Young –players who could be available toward the tail end of their rookie deals.”
ESPN on Al Golden/Bengals defense
That may not be the take that Bengals fans are looking to hear after what’s been an extremely challenging season. Yet, with Cincinnati being notorious for not firing its coaches and coordinators before their contract expires, chances are they won’t act any differently with Golden either. Though it’s not known how long his contract lasts, most aren’t one-year deals.
Related: 2025 NFL Report Card: Grading All 32 Teams Before Week 15
