The Bengals suffered another one-score loss on Sunday, and the team now sits at 4-7 as a result. The bye week could present the opportunity to make changes in the lineup and/or on the sidelines, but that will not be the case. 
“I think we all watch the game and we can see it’s just coming down to one play in every single game,” head coach Zac Taylor said (via Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer). “So why would you make a big wholesale change? That to me is just panic. That’s not what we’re about. We believe in what we’re doing.”
Quarterback Joe Burrow leads the league in completions (274), yards (3,028) and touchdown passes (27) through 11 games, but that effectiveness has often not translated to wins in 2024. Cincinnati was beaten handily by Philadelphia in Week 8, but otherwise the team’s losses have been decided by an average of 3.8 points. That lends itself to continuity amongst the coaching staff; Taylor and Co. nevertheless certainly have a number of areas to improve on during the bye.
The Bengals rank 28th in the league in points allowed, and the team has amassed underwhelming totals against both the pass and run this season. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo has been in place since Taylor’s HC tenure began in 2019, and his unit posted a sixth-place finish in scoring defense in 2022. A repeat of that showing was not expected this year – nor would it be necessary for sustained success given the level of Burrow’s performances – but an uptick in play after the bye would help Cincinnati’s chances of a late wild-card run. Anarumo has drawn head coaching interest in the past, although 2024 has likely not helped his stock.
Taylor operates as the offense’s play-caller, so the role of offensive coordinator is one which is also unlikely to receive considerable attention over the coming days. Dan Pitcher is in place as OC after Brian Callahan took the Titans’ head coaching gig this past offseason. The Bengals have not been effective on the ground in 2024, but their passing efficiency has left them sixth in the NFL in scoring and ninth in total offense.
Special teams have generally been a strength under Taylor, but the kicking game has been an issue in 2024. Evan McPherson (who landed a three-year extension this summer) has connected on only 15 of 21 field goal attempts this season, a critical factor given the team’s close losses. A rebound in that regard could go a long way toward a late-year playoff push. In any event, Cincinnati will maintain the status quo coming out of the bye.
lol Zac is a bum, “we believe in what we’re doing” and what exactly are you doing? You’re losing football games
I’m no Bengals fan, but he’s one of the top QBs in the league. The defense is what sucks…
Sounds like they’re dumb. Per usual, Bunguls suck. I’ve been massively criticized in the past for saying so.
Were you saying they suck in 2021-23 tine frame? Maybe that’s why you were being criticized. They went 9-8 last year without Burrow for the last what 6-7 games. They have lost games by less than 4 points except for the Philly and NE games where they were not efficient on offense.
They suck at defense. That’s it. They suck at closing out games like the chargers last year.
You want to high five your tool A for saying that sucked in the past? Good grief do you need a yo votes badly for that? They sucked in 2019-20. That’s when they sucked.
Sucking is the Panthers. Giants. That level of sucking.
They are dumb if they don’t make coaching changes after this season. Right now though who besides Robert Salah? Could you get yo coach up the defense? Is there an OL coach who’s good enough out there right now to coach a better OL scheme?
Problem starts with the inept Brown family, lack of scouting dept, and GM. It’s a hillbilly organization who hires every family member possible into jobs they have no right doing. It’s embarrassing. Also, Zack Taylor is a joke. This winning window has slammed shut. There will be zero changes during the offseason. Anyone who’s been around knows how things work around here.
Mike Brown never pays for anyone. This is why it’s the least valuable NFL franchise. Joe Burrow will be the modern day Dan Marino while he’s the owner.
They were Top 10 in FA spending before the 2021 season. One of the reasons they went that far was the signing of Trey Hendrickson. Reader. Hilton. Vonn Bell. Azuwei. Karras. Cappa.
They are cash poor compared to other owners who are oil barons like the Browns owner. That there is no doubt. To say they don’t pay for players. They will and do.
However after that great FA period they have floundered with Rankins. Stone. Bell coming back.
Orlando Brown has been very good. But now his injury is probably going to end his season.
The TE they signed from Miami has been good.
The drafting though has been bad to replace Bates and help build the defense. That’s the big issue.
I wonder if they’ll bring in Joe Brady as head coach to reunite him with Burrow and Chase.
The Browns rarely fire coaches in the middle of their contacts.
I agree with Cincy Sapper 2 in that Zak Taylor is a self proclaimed football guru. He’s been the problem the whole time it’s just that the team was so good they overcame his inadequacies. I’ve said from the get go that they were winning in spite of Taylor, not because of him. The offensive coordinator should be calling the plays, not the head coach, in fact Joe Burrow should be allowed to call his own plays in my humble opinion. He’s out there seeing what’s happening with the defense and could make adjustments. The problem isn’t Mike Brown, it’s the same thing that happened with the Reds. Zac Taylor is more like a buddy than a coach. He’s almost the same age as these guys and why should they listen to a young guy who hasn’t exactly been a superstar in the sport. The Bengals need an older coach to guide these guys along, just like the Reds hired Terry Francona to mentor the younger team. I also think the NFL has figured out Lou Anaramo. He was good in 21 and 22, but these last two years he’s slipping. This is just my opinion, but it seems fairly obvious.
I don’t think it really matters who calls the plays in Cincinnati because they simply don’t have a run game that can keep opposing defenses honest. Everyone knows the team only goes as far as Burrows can take them and he’s not getting much help from the defense, which as stated, is allowing too many points.
Yes the interior line has been bad with the 2 Guards. Again the drafting on the OL has been bad. Mims looks ok. But Volson is bad. The other G is either done or injured.
If they need to make a move it’s moving the Center who use to play G to one of the G positions. Ford has been OK as far as what I have seen to cover for Brown at LT. Can he play G to sit those 2 others down ?
So how do you explain how well Jake Browning played last year? He couldn’t make any other team in 5 years and yet he was the 8th rated quarterback last year. Maybe Burrow is who he is because of Taylor. There’s been lots of #1 quarterback picks that haven’t lived up to the pick. The guy is calling plays for what has been a routinely top 8 offense for years
Do you even watch college football, Deerhunter? It seems like you don’t
DeerHunter, Are you serious? Jake Browning played well because he’s a good QB, and they didn’t try to make him into Joe Burrow 2.0
Yeah, Taylor did so well with Andy Dalton too. Andy might get a HOF plaque because of Taylor. Taylor is routinely predictable and the defensive coordinators know that. If we had an experienced head coach and and an innovative offensive coordinator who could implement HIS offense Burrow could probably outclass Mahomes on a weekly basis. But we’ve got Taylor the Talentless and his minions. (Hopefully for not much longer)
Run game or not – the offense can play with anyone in the league.
Get a kicker – Money Mac is bankrupt … and can’t kick anymore.
Fix the defense … then we can play with anyone.
And all Carolina has to do is fix the offense and they’re favorites in the South. Fixing the defense isn’t easy when you’re gonna have a quarterback/WR combo making 100 million, especially when the owner is cash poor and doesn’t have the funds to put in escrow
I agree that Zac Taylor is a joke of a coach. If not for Joey B and Ja’Marr how many games would the Bungles have won? Zac and Lou need to go. We should also release CTB, our LBs not named Pratt, replace Karras with Lee and replace Volson with anyone, to include a HS OL. Lastly, Bankrupt Mac needs to find a new team, I hear the USFL could use him.