CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati Bengals were staring at yet another improbable loss against a struggling team before a 350-pound wall of muscle intervened.
With the Tennessee Titans perilously close to field goal range, defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II made a play that could be a turning point in the team's season. Lawrence plowed past two offensive linemen and sacked Titans quarterback Cam Ward for a 13-yard loss that not only took the Titans out of scoring range but also kept the Bengals alive.
Cincinnati didn't squander the chance in a 43-36 overtime victory. As many pointed out afterward, it was the type of game that Cincinnati squandered in previous seasons.
One could easily argue that game was won in the offseason. Instead of re-signing Trey Hendrickson, a forme All-Pro selection, Cincinnati opted to beef up the interior of the line and supplement the edges with versatile edge rushers.
And through nearly half the season, the plan has paid off.
"That's why you trade for a guy like that," Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. "He stepped up and has been the impact player we hoped he would be."
It's not just Lawrence, whom the team acquired by trading the No. 10 draft pick to the New York Giants in exchange for the three-time Pro Bowl player. Cincinnati also signed defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and edge rusher Boye Mafe in free agency.
And how the Bengals (5-2) decided to build their defensive line could dictate the AFC North.
Hendrickson, who signed with the Bengals in 2021, will go down as one of the best acquisitions and edge rushers in franchise history. In five seasons, he was a four-time Pro Bowl player and an All-Pro selection in 2024 after leading the NFL with 17.5 sacks. But after the Bengals were steadfast in their refusal to commit to him long term, the 31-year-old hit free agency and landed with the rival Baltimore Ravens on a four-year contract worth $112 million.
The Bengals chose to spend a little bit differently. Between trading for Lawrence and giving him a one-year extension and signing Allen (two years, $25 million) and Mafe (three years, $60 million), the Bengals signed contracts worth $155 million. Including the offsetting costs of trading the No. 10 pick, Cincinnati inked a net difference of $10.2 million to add three players versus how much Baltimore pledged to Hendrickson.
And that paradigm shift was intentional. Being able to shrink the pocket from the middle of the field and making the defensive line a true position of strength was a focal point this offseason.
Doing that required getting more than just Lawrence. So at the start of free agency, Cincinnati assistant general manager Steve Radecivic and the front office zeroed in on Allen, a 10-year veteran and a onetime first-round pick.
Allen cited a few key names -- quarterback Joe Burrow, defensive coordinator Al Golden and assistant coach Jerry Montgomery -- among the people who made the move enticing. But the Bengals weren't shy about showing just how much they wanted the former Alabama standout.
In the end, the Bengals ultimately won out over Allen's other suitors, a mix that he said just happened to include the Ravens.
"Honestly, other teams were trying to lowball me and see what kind of deal they could work out," Allen told ESPN. "Cincinnati was straightforward and to the point: 'We want you to be a part of this.' So honestly, it was a pretty easy decision."
The fit couldn't work out any better. Lawrence has five sacks and Allen has three. Both have been big in helping the Bengals in the run and pass game.
And then there's Mafe, who leads the team with 5.5 sacks and is 10th in the NFL in pass rush win rate as an edge rusher, according to ESPN/Next Gen Stats.
Against the Titans, Taylor praised the way Mafe tracked down Tennessee's Ward on the overtime drive that led to the winning stop. Mafe also worked together with Lawrence for the sack at the end of regulation.
In Baltimore, Hendrickson has still been productive. Despite dealing with a finger injury, he still has two sacks and is fifth among edge rushers in pass rush win rate.
But through eight games, the trio Cincinnati invested in has given the Bengals a great return on investment. This season, the Bengals are fourth in the NFL with 23 sacks, 12 shy of their season total in 2025.
Lawrence, Mafe and Allen have seamlessly integrated themselves into Cincinnati's defense. After any given practice, the voices and conversation from that section can be heard in every corner of the locker room.
And with the Bengals nearly at the midway point of the season, it's easy to see why the newcomers have integrated so well.
"I feel like the [defense] came into this year with something to prove," Mafe told ESPN. "And for me, that's an easy thing to buy into. I love to see an underdog story. I love to see people count somebody out and for them to show up as much as they can."