The 70.35% Double-Team Rate That Tells You Everything About Dexter Lawrence's Silent Impact

Alright, football fans, buckle up because there's a seismic shift brewing on an NFL defensive line, and if you weren't paying attention, you're about to get schooled. Dexter Lawrence, the powerhouse defensive tackle, is walking into the 2026 season with a whole new squad and a serious chip on his shoulder. Remember his monster 2024 season with nine sacks? Well, last year was a different story, with career lows in sacks and QB hits, snapping his Pro Bowl streak. But if you think that means he wasn't making an impact, you've missed the entire point.

The Numbers Don't Lie, But They Don't Tell the Whole Story

Look, the raw stats from 2025 for Lawrence are, frankly, wild. He put up a measly 0.5 sacks and only eight quarterback hits. For a guy who was a Pro Bowler for three straight years before that, it's a head-scratcher. But here's the kicker, the number that changes everything: Lawrence faced the fifth-highest double-team rate among all defensive tackles last season, a staggering 70.35 percent, according to Pro Football Focus. Think about that for a second. Almost three-quarters of the time, he was battling two guys! He knew what was up, too. Just last week, he told Joe Reedy of the Associated Press, "I’m more managing it now, because you can’t really beat up on other teams. So during the season you just let it go and you flow. I know how I approach this game and my impact to the game, even when it doesn’t show up

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on the sack numbers.” That's the mindset of a true game-wrecker, even when the box score doesn't show it.

A New Squad, A Calming Presence, And Pure Chaos for Opponents

Now, here's where it gets really spicy for 2026. Lawrence isn't just showing up with a new team, he's got a whole new supporting cast designed to unleash him. The Bengals went out and got not just Lawrence, but also fellow defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and edge rushers Boye Mafe and Cashius Howell. Yeah, you heard that right: Boye Mafe, now a Bengal, is part of this new terror squad. This kind of talent infusion could dramatically reduce those double-team rates for Lawrence, letting him feast. Mafe himself knows the deal. He said, "We know the caliber of player he is. Having him on our side, it makes it so much easier. It makes everyone’s job around us easier. He’s a calming presence because we have him on our side.” A calming presence for his teammates, maybe. For opposing quarterbacks? Pure nightmare fuel. Lawrence has already been putting in work with his new team, and you can bet he's ready to remind the league exactly what he's capable of with single blocking. This early in the season, you've got to watch how these new pieces gel. Lawrence, freed from constant double teams, could revert to his dominant 2024 form and then some. The Bengals are clearly building something serious on defense, and the impact of these additions, especially Lawrence, will be critical to watch in these opening weeks. Get ready, because it’s going to be a wild ride!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.