CINCINNATI, Ohio — The Bengals are not only opening their season against an in-state rival in the Browns on Sunday in Cleveland, but they are also going up against two of the NFL’s best defensive players.
It’s a challenge Bengals coach Zac Taylor understands as he discussed in his Wednesday press conference.
“He’s one of the best to do it,” Taylor said of Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett during his recent media session.
It’s not just Garrett that concerns him, as Taylor quickly added, “Denzel Ward’s right there with him as well. I think those are two guys that are the tops of their positions, and they impact the game in a lot of ways.”
This isn’t just polite acknowledgment of opponent talent. Taylor’s comments reveal genuine concern about Cleveland’s defensive stars and recognition that his game plan must account for their disruptive abilities. As the Bengals prepare for their season opener in Cleveland, the challenge of neutralizing Garrett—particularly with two new starting guards—looms large.
What makes Garrett especially dangerous is defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s knack for maximizing his talents, sometimes shifting him inside to create mismatches against interior linemen. When asked specifically about how prepared his new guards including rookie third-round pick Dylan Fairchild are for this challenge, Taylor displayed confidence while acknowledging the difficulty.
“I think we’ve done our best to invest and prepare these guys. And Lucas (Patrick), he’s got a lot of games under his belt, and Dylan has been our starter since day one,” Taylor explained. “I’m excited to watch those guys play. I’m excited to watch the entire unit play.”
The respect Taylor shows for Cleveland’s defense extends beyond their star players. “Not only do they have two guys on the front end and back end, but the rest of the defense is well coordinated, well coached,” Taylor noted. “They play with a lot of energy, a lot of disruption, and they can make things difficult for you.”
The Browns’ rushing attack presents another significant concern for Cincinnati. Taylor praised Cleveland’s offensive infrastructure, noting, “They have a really experienced offensive line. Tight end group is experienced, you know, with (David) Njoku. So they’ve got pieces there that have been a part of offense… they’ve always had a really good run game, always one that takes great focus from the defense. That’s an element that we certainly have to address.”
Taylor’s analysis highlights the continuity Cleveland maintains despite coordinator changes, pointing out that Kevin Stefanski “has been there the whole time” and has “tremendous performance over the entirety of the offense.”
The familiarity between these division rivals adds another layer of complexity. “We’ve seen them as much as we’ve seen any team, and obviously you’ve got a lot of respect for them,” Taylor acknowledged. “It’s going to take everything you got to get a winning game plan.”
This matchup represents a critical early test for Cincinnati’s revamped offensive line against one of the NFL’s most formidable defensive fronts. Taylor’s detailed breakdown of the challenges demonstrates his thorough preparation and respect for a Browns defense that has consistently caused problems for Cincinnati.
As Taylor summed up the Week 1 challenge: “Early on you got to do the little things really well.” Against a defense featuring game-wreckers like Garrett and Ward, those little things could make all the difference between starting 1-0 or 0-1.
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