Here’s why Joe Burrow has been sacked less this season behind the Bengals’ banged-up offensive line

The Bengals‘ offensive line was down three starters last weekend in Buffalo and was supposed to crumble like last year when Joe Burrow was sacked 70 times.

That was far from the case. The Bengals rushed for 172 yards in their win against the Bills, their second-most in a game this season. Burrow was only sacked once, tied for his fewest in a game this season. Collectively, the offense had one of its best performances of the year, racking up 30 first downs and scoring on five of seven drives (excluding end of halves). Buffalo didn’t have Von Miller, but it was certainly a surprising performance. 

So the Bengals’ offensive line is just better this year, right? Not exactly.

On the surface it looks like an improved unit this season, no matter who is inserted into the trenches. Burrow has been pressured at the fourth-lowest rate and sacked at the 17th-lowest rate in 2022. Big improvements from his ranks last year — 19th and 29th.

But the underlying metrics tell a different story. The Bengals’ offensive line hasn’t improved at all, and maybe it doesn’t matter who is back there. Pro Football Focus (PFF) and ESPN Analytics metrics both have the Bengals’ pass-blocking and run-blocking units ranked the same or worse than last season. 

They use different methodologies too. PFF uses analysts to grade every player on every play. ESPN Analytics uses NFL Next Gen Stats technology to measure performance in this case. If both humans and machines (for lack of a better term) agree the Bengals’ offensive line is getting beat at the same rate, or more often, than last year, I tend to listen.

So what’s the deal? How is Burrow getting pressured and sacked less if on the most fundamental level (winning and losing blocks) the Bengals’ offensive line is not improved?

The answer is Joe Burrow, among other factors. 

Quick passing and softer coverage

The first factor is Burrow and the Bengals offense has evolved in part due to how defenses are playing them. The 2022 Bengals offense is not as explosive as last year, when it was one deep ball after another to Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Co. This is a more methodical unit that takes what the defense gives them, and still can burn defenses with the occasional deep shot. 

Burrow has the third-fastest…