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Bengals Collapse: Defense Crumbles in 4th Quarter
20 Nov
Summary
- Bengals have allowed 14+ points in five straight fourth quarters.
- This streak breaks the previous NFL single-season record.
- The defense is on pace to allow 175 fourth-quarter points.
The 2025 Cincinnati Bengals are enduring a statistically alarming season, marked by a historic defensive collapse in the fourth quarter. The team has now allowed 14 or more points in the final quarter for five consecutive games. This streak surpasses the previous NFL single-season record of four such games.
Over these last five games, the Bengals' defense has surrendered a staggering 84 points in the fourth quarter, averaging 16.8 points per quarter. This level of collapse is unprecedented, with their current pace projecting 175 points allowed in the fourth quarter for the entire season. Only the 2020 Raiders have allowed more fourth-quarter points in a 16-game season.
Despite the consistent fourth-quarter meltdowns, the team's front office and coaching staff appear to have made minimal adjustments. The repeated failures suggest a deeper issue than mere bad luck, as the defense is described as "beyond embarrassing" and a "disgrace."
