70 Percent Double Team: Dexter Lawrence Is Coming For the League, Ready or Not
Alright, hold up, Emerald City! You gotta hear about this. Dexter Lawrence, the monster defensive tackle, is officially on a new squad with the Bengals for the 2026 season, and let me tell you, he’s got a chip the size of Mount Rainier on his shoulder. After a career-high nine sacks in 2024, his 2025 season saw a shocking drop to just 0.5 sacks and a measly eight quarterback hits. That three-year Pro Bowl run? Gone. But if you think Lawrence is slowing down, you’re dead wrong. He’s telling everyone he knows his impact, sack numbers or not, and he’s ready to prove it.
The Real Numbers Tell the Story
Look, the raw stats from last season don't paint a pretty picture, right? Half a sack? Eight QB hits? For a player of Lawrence's caliber, that’s just wild. It’s the kind of slump that makes you wonder what went wrong. But Pro Football Focus dropped a stat that changes everything: Lawrence was double-teamed on a staggering 70.35 percent of his snaps last season. That’s the fifth-highest rate among all defensive tackles in the league! Think about that. Seventy freakin’ percent! You try getting to the quarterback when you’ve got two huge linemen glued to you nearly every snap. It makes those low sack numbers suddenly make a whole lot more sense, doesn't it?
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Lawrence himself is clear about it. Just a week ago, 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.” He knows what he brings to the game, even when it doesn't show up in the flashy box scores. That kind of self-awareness and quiet confidence, even after a tough year, tells you everything you need to know about the guy’s mindset heading into the new season.
New Team, New Opportunity, New Pressure
The Bengals clearly saw what Lawrence was doing under all that pressure, because they went out and got him. And they didn’t stop there! They’re building a defensive line that looks absolutely stacked, adding defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and edge rushers Cashius Howell and our guy, Boye Mafe, who now finds himself on the other side of the country. This is huge for Lawrence, because more talent around him means fewer double teams, more one-on-one matchups, and more chances to absolutely dominate. Mafe knows it too, saying, "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." That’s high praise from a fellow D-lineman, and it speaks volumes.
So, as the 2026 season approaches, keep an eye on Dexter Lawrence. He’s got something to prove, he’s got a new crew around him, and the numbers show he was still an absolute force even when the sacks weren't there. Get ready, folks, because with less attention from offensive lines, Lawrence could be back to terrorizing quarterbacks. This year, the Bengals’ defensive line could be one of the scariest in the league, and Lawrence is at the heart of it all. It’s gonna be fun to watch!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.