The Cincinnati Bengals have gone from one of the NFL’s most disciplined teams in 2025 to one of the league’s worst in that category just three games into 2026.
That reversal is especially jarring because discipline was one of the bright spots in a rough season last year. While the Bengals were busy "earning" a top-ten draft pick, head coach Zac Taylor got credit for keeping the team sharp and organized. Now, that reputation looks a lot shakier.
Last season, Cincinnati finished as the second-least penalized team in the NFL, with only the 49ers drawing fewer flags. Even so, the Bengals still had the 11th-most offensive presnap penalties.
The defense, though, was in a different class entirely, posting the fewest pre-snap infractions and the fewest penalties overall in the league. The offense "outscored" the defense 46-26 in 2025.
That kind of edge has vanished quickly in 2026. Through three games, the Bengals now have the most pre-snap penalties in the NFL. The offense has been flagged nine times in that area, and the defense already has five presnap penalties after recording only two all of last season.
The overall picture is just as ugly. Cincinnati is no longer near the bottom of the league in penalties; instead, it ranks fifth in that category. For a team that was once among the cleanest in football, that kind of drop-off is hard to ignore.
Some of the mistakes have shown up at the worst possible times. Against the Steelers, the Bengals had to burn a timeout after a kick return because of what Taylor called, “it was just my fault,” and Joe Burrow was visibly frustrated with the sideline in a key moment as the offense tried to set up a potential game-winning touchdown, or at least a field goal to force overtime.
The penalties have also erased big plays on both sides of the ball. Chase Brown’s 26-yard run against the Texans was wiped out by an offensive holding call. Against the Steelers, Myles Murphy had a sack taken off the board because of a foul.
Those kinds of plays can change games in a hurry, and they can also leave teammates wondering about missed chances for production and bonuses.
Taylor’s team doesn’t need a complete overhaul so much as a stop to the self-inflicted damage. The Bengals have turned one of their strengths into a glaring problem, and right now the offense, in particular, is paying the price.
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The backdrop makes the point even sharper because the Bengals have had other issues in the mix, from defensive lapses to discipline concerns after a recent game. Dexter Lawrence pointed to penalties and tackling as areas that need cleaning up, while Evan McPherson was honored as the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for his field goal work. Even with that recognition on special teams, the bigger question around Cincinnati remains whether the offense will lean harder into the quarterback who gives it the best chance to take control. [Read more 🡒]
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Ja'Marr Chase Opens Up About Bengals Fun The NFL Might Not Love
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For Chase, the bigger point was pretty simple: celebrations are part of the fun, and the NFLs stars should be able to show a little personality after finding the end zone. It is the kind of stance Bengals fans have come to expect from Chase, who tends to treat the game like entertainment as much as competition, and it adds another layer to a team that already leans into swagger when it is at its best. [Read more 🡒]