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Bengals progress report: Grading special teams

Entering their bye week with a 3-2 record, the Cincinnati Bengals have experienced mixed results across their roster, with special teams proving particularly inconsistent under coordinator Darrin Simmons. While the offensive and defensive units have shown flashes, the special teams have swung between stellar performances and costly mistakes.

Kicker Evan McPherson has been a bright spot, setting a franchise mark with 22 consecutive successful field goals, which includes a flawless 10-for-10 start to the 2026 season featuring five makes from beyond 50 yards and a long of 58. Conversely, the rest of the unit has struggled with discipline and execution.

Major errors have plagued the team in key matchups, highlighted by a roughing-the-snapper penalty against Dexter Lawrence in Week 5 that extended a Miami Dolphins drive and turned a field goal into a touchdown. Earlier in Week 3 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a roughing-the-kicker infraction by Cedric Johnson erased a defensive stop and led to a Pittsburgh touchdown, while Ke’Shawn Williams muffed a punt that set up another Steelers score.

These combined special teams blunders handed opponents crucial points in tightly contested games, underlining a stark contrast to McPherson's reliability.

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