What happened: Pro Football Focus highlighted defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence as the primary driver of the Cincinnati Bengals' early-season success. Analyst Cris Collinsworth noted the interior lineman has completely changed the unit's identity.

Why it matters: The offseason addition has allowed Cincinnati to field a revamped defense that consistently disrupts opposing backfields without blitzing. The scheme has already generated seven unblocked pressures in the 2026 season.

What to watch: Cincinnati looks to maintain its interior dominance as the regular season progresses.