How bad is the Bengals offense?

"Before you name the receivers, before you even name the quarterback, it all starts with that offensive line. It don't start with us at all. I think it starts with the offensive line. It's going to have a trickle effect. When they're playing well, Carson's going to play well, and it means us on the outside, we're going to play well. Because if it doesn't start with them, the rest of us really don't matter."
- Chad ______ (fill in the blank) on the team's struggling offense.

I disagree with the assessment that Johnson is blaming the line with any maliciousness. Simply stated as fact, if the offensive line doesn't perform up to the standards that this "finesse" offense needs, then we're not going to score points. Bobbie Williams has been the most vocal about the line's disappointing relation to the team's struggling offense.

I hate harping on it, but after the loss to the Ravens, we posted Palmer's worst career performances. Now that list is updated.

I'm sure the relation is coincidence, but his top three worst performances are played during September. Four of his top-six worst passing-yardage games were also played in September.

I know it's just through two games, but the Bengals scoring offense is ranked 28th -- the lowest since 2002 (ranked 28th). On the other hand, the Bengals scoring defense is ranked 16th -- best since 2001 (when they were 14th).

How have the Bengals rushing offense faired in the first two games since 2001?

Here's an eye-opening stat for you. The Bengals total offensive yardage through two games is 369. The opposing offense, through two games, is averaging 326.5 per game.

Kyle Larson has 163 more yards punting (532), than the Bengals offense has yards (369). Just to show you how ridiculously lop-sided that differential is, the Bengals offense had 5,568 total net yards last season, compared to Larson's 2,437 yards punting.

Last year, the Bengals passed 52.20% of the time on first-and-ten. This season, the Bengals have passed 52.38% of the time on first-and-ten. Talk about trends. However, inside the Red Zone, the Bengals have rushed every single time on first-and-ten this season (65.71% last season).

Through the first two games this season, Chris Perry has rushed the ball 11 times in the second half for 18 yards rushing (1.6 yards-per-carry). He still hasn't rushed for a first down in the second half. Perry's best quarter is clearly the first; 14 carries, 47 yards (3.4 average).

Chris Perry on First Down: 18 rushes for 68 yards rushing.
Chris Perry on Second Down: 16 rushes for 22 yards rushing.

As a team, the Bengals rushing on second down.

Play calling by downs (no matter the yardage to-go which differs from the notes above about first-and-ten)