Coley Harvey, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Bengals challenged to stop Colts' WRs, TEs

CINCINNATI -- We've written a fair amount this week about the Cincinnati Bengals' inability to stop the run the last two weeks, both from running backs and quarterbacks.

But what about stopping the pass?

The Bengals certainly can't forget to do that, either.

Just like they have the last two games, in particular, the Bengals this week will have their hands full trying to slow down an offense that features a good group of tight ends, and multiple playmaking receivers, including a young wideout who has progressed faster than many expected.

There's a reason the Indianapolis Colts have the NFL's No. 1 total offense, and that reason doesn't only include quarterback Andrew Luck.

Luck's pass-catchers, namely Hakeem Nicks, Reggie Wayne, T.Y. Hilton, Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener, have had as large a role in that top ranking as anything else. Hilton and Wayne are among the top 15 in the league in receptions and  receiving yards. Among tight ends, Allen and Fleener are among the top 13 in yards per reception and touchdowns.

Combine all of that with a decent enough running game and Luck's ability to create plays and you get an efficient and seemingly well-oiled offense.

Part of the reason Luck has had such success passing this season is because he's doing better with deep balls. After having a completion rating of 37.2 on passes at least 15 yards downfield in 2012-13, Luck has completed such deep throws at a 56.4 percent clip this year. His total QBR also has increased on throws that have traveled at least 15 yards. The first two years of Luck's career his QBR on such throws was 75.2. His QBR on them this season is 99.2.

Another benefit for Luck? Wayne's sure-handed play. Entering this week the receiver led all players in the league with the most targets without a drop. He has 54 ahead of Sunday's game.

As for Hilton, the third-year player is having the best year of his young career. One glance at his statistics shows where he has experienced growth each season. This ESPN The Magazine graphic from Thursday demonstrates where his catches per game, yards per game, catch percentage and receptions per routes run have all increased incrementally each year to this point in the season. It also demonstrates where his drop percentage has gone down incrementally each year to this point in the season.

If there is a candidate in the NFL for breakout player of the year, Hilton could very well be it.

Fleener and Allen have caused their own headaches for opposing defenses and could do the same against the Bengals. Expect both to field their share of attention from Cincinnati, following the Bengals' issues covering Rob Gronkowski and Greg Olsen the last two weeks. Gronkowski had six catches for 100 yards and a touchdown two weeks ago, and Olsen had six catches for 62 yards and a score.

"We've got to do a better job, no question," Bengals defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said about the coverage versus tight ends.

His job will be a little more difficult this week, too, with cover linebacker Emmanuel Lamur out with a shoulder injury. It means the Bengals may be forced to go into nickel packages regularly and use safety Taylor Mays to line up in man coverage with Fleener or Allen. Other linebackers also will be forced into helping stop Indianapolis' largest playmakers.

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