Tyler Eifert's health is one big underlying reason the Cincinnati Bengals' offense has been a consistent juggernaut in 2015.
Eifert, who caught three touchdown passes in Thursday night's 31-10 romp over instate rival Cleveland Browns, has been big in multiple facets.
"Oh my gosh -- that guy," A.J. Green said, via the Cincinnati Enquirer. "Tyler is a wide receiver trapped in a big body because the way he runs routes and the way he's getting in and out of his breaks is unbelievable."
Eifert has been Andy Dalton's security blanket this season, especially in the red zone where his size -- 6 feet 6 -- is a mismatch against any defender. The quarterback trusts the third-year pro to get open versus linebackers, safeties or corners, using his combination of size and speed to combat any coverage a defense deploys.
"That's what's so big," Dalton said. "He scored touchdowns on three different types of plays. There's not much he can't do."
Eifert caught five passes for 53 yards and three touchdowns Thursday. His nine TDs this season tied the Bengals single-season record by a tight end -- Rodney Holman (1989) and Bob Trumpy (1969). Those nine receiving scores are the most of any player -- Odell Beckham Jr., Rob Gronkowski and Larry Fitzgerald all have seven.
All nine of those scores have come in the red zone, highlighting the disastrous mismatch he causes for defenders in constricted space.
"If they are going to put one person on him, we know he's going to have a field day," Marvin Jones said of the mismatch Eifert causes.
With Green and Jones on the outside and a consistent running game forcing defenders to bite on play action, there just aren't enough players on the field to also cover Eifert. As long as he remains healthy this season, expect the 25-year-old tight end to keep gobbling up touchdowns.
