Bengals defense posts one of NFL’s lowest missed tackle rates

The Cincinnati Bengals have a positive defensive takeaway from Week 5. And it’s that their tackling placed them among the NFL’s best.

Per SumerSports data shared by analyst Shawn Syed, Cincinnati recorded a 6.5% defensive missed tackle rate. That was the fifth-lowest figure among teams before Sunday Night Football.

The New York Jets led the group at 3.6%, followed by the New England Patriots at 4.9%. The New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Chargers tied for third at 6.3%, leaving the Bengals just behind both teams.

Week 5 lowest defensive missed tackle rates (before SNF), per @SumerSports:

1. New York Jets (3.6%)
2. New England Patriots (4.9%)
t-3. New Orleans Saints (6.3)
t-3. Los Angeles Chargers (6.3%)
5. Cincinnati Bengals (6.5%)

— Shawn Syed (@SyedSchemes) October 12, 2026

That puts Cincinnati within 0.2 percentage points of a tie for third in the listed results.

For a defense, limiting missed tackles can help prevent manageable gains from becoming explosive plays. Getting a runner or receiver down ASAP also gives an offense fewer chances to turn a short completion into a first down.

The number measures one specific part of Cincinnati’s performance. It doesn’t divulge how the Bengals ranked in overall defensive efficiency, coverage or pressure generation.

Nonetheless, it provides Cincinnati with a concrete result to build on.

And in the end, maintaining that tackling efficiency could help the Bengals stack more wins.

This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals defense posts one of NFL’s lowest missed tackle rates