Zac Taylor’s Bengals Are Running Out of Excuses-and Time
The Cincinnati Bengals are in a tailspin, and it’s becoming harder to separate the team’s struggles from the man leading them.
Zac Taylor entered this season with momentum. For once, the Bengals didn’t stumble out of the gate-they opened with a 2-0 record.
But that early optimism quickly dissolved. Joe Burrow suffered another major injury, and the team has since dropped eight of its last nine games, including a 39-34 heartbreaker in Buffalo.
Now sitting at 4-9, Cincinnati has officially clinched its worst record since 2020, the year Burrow’s rookie campaign was cut short by a devastating knee injury.
To be fair, Taylor’s offense hasn’t been the primary issue. Even in the loss to the Bills, the Bengals put up 34 points.
But when you have a franchise quarterback like Burrow and a generational talent in Ja’Marr Chase, the bar is higher. And while Taylor has shown he can scheme up points, the bigger picture-complementary football, situational awareness, and overall readiness-continues to fall short.
That’s where the frustration is mounting.
A Pattern That’s Hard to Ignore
The loss in Buffalo wasn’t just another L in the standings. It was another chapter in a recurring story: the Bengals coming up short in pivotal moments. Burrow threw back-to-back interceptions in that game, and while Josh Allen’s brilliance certainly played a role in the outcome, it’s the broader trend that’s more concerning.
The Bengals have now gone 0-6-1 following Thursday Night Football under Taylor. That’s not just bad luck-it’s a pattern that speaks to preparation and execution.
These aren’t just blowout losses either. They’re gut-punch defeats: a wild kicking game against Green Bay, a walk-off loss to Baltimore in 2022, a furious comeback against the Chargers that was undone in 27 seconds, and now this latest collapse in Buffalo.
These are the kinds of games that define a season-and a coach’s tenure.
Taylor’s Words, and What They Mean Now
After the loss to the Bills, Taylor stood at the podium and said, “There’s nobody that can watch that game and say they didn’t think we had a chance to win that.” He’s not wrong.
The Bengals were in it. But that’s the problem.
They’re always in it, yet somehow not winning it.
That kind of messaging-while admirable in its optimism-starts to wear thin when it’s not backed up by results. It’s no longer about moral victories or being close.
It’s about execution, consistency, and delivering when it matters most. And right now, Cincinnati isn’t doing that.
The Bigger Picture
Taylor’s supporters will point to the lack of help from the front office on the defensive side of the ball. And it’s true-Duke Tobin and the personnel department haven’t exactly built a juggernaut on that end.
But coaching is about maximizing what you do have. And with Burrow under center, you have more than most.
The Bengals have now gone nearly four full seasons without a playoff appearance. In the Burrow-Chase era, that’s borderline unacceptable. This is a window you don’t want to waste, and right now, it feels like Cincinnati is doing just that.
Taylor’s contract runs through 2026, and there’s still time to turn things around. But the clock is ticking.
Even if the Bengals rally next season and sneak into the playoffs, it’s fair to ask whether the current leadership is capable of taking this team all the way. Because that’s the standard now.
Not just being competitive. Not just being close.
Winning.
What Comes Next?
This isn’t about scapegoating Zac Taylor. He’s done a lot of good in Cincinnati, including guiding the Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance not long ago. But the NFL is a what-have-you-done-lately league, and lately, the Bengals have been spinning their wheels.
The pieces are there. Burrow is still elite.
The offense has firepower. The fan base is engaged and hungry.
What’s missing is the edge-the ability to close out games, to respond after setbacks, and to rise to the moment when the lights are brightest.
Whether the Bengals decide to make a change this offseason or give Taylor one more shot in 2026, one thing is clear: the status quo isn’t cutting it. Not with this roster.
Not with this quarterback. Not in this window.
Something has to give.