The box score from the Bengals game would indicate the 49ers played poorly on defense. Joe Burrow threw for 348 yards and had over ten yards per attempt. Tee Higgins had 114 yards, and Cincinnati hit a few explosive plays.
That ignores the Bengals going 4-for-13 on third down, only rushing for 3.3 yards per carry, and the 49ers sacking them five times. As a result, the Bengals finished the game with a negative EPA per play on late downs, with a below-average success rate for the game.
I thought it was one of DeMeco Ryans’ best-coached games yet.