The Bengals keep finding themselves in the same uncomfortable spot: digging out of early holes, then relying on late surges to survive. That pattern has already shown up in back-to-back weeks, and it’s not the kind of formula Cincinnati wants to lean on if it’s serious about chasing a Super Bowl.
Through it all, Ja’Marr Chase has made it clear he’s not interested in pretending everything is fine. He addressed the team at halftime during the loss to the Baltimore Ravens, and Cincinnati answered with 35 unanswered points in a 35-13 win. This past week, he was back in the spotlight again after being seen on the sideline visibly angry.
Zac Taylor isn’t making a big deal out of it. He said he likes the edge Chase brings and framed the moment as part of the emotion that comes with a tight game.
“You know, that’s just part of it. It’s a tight game.
It’s an emotional game. We’ll work through it, obviously.
[He had] a big day for us. Came up really big there at the end of the game and overtime.
So that’s just one of those things that happens in a football game.”
That fits the larger mood around the team. The players know the slow starts aren’t good enough, and the coaches know it too.
Chase has been one of the clearest voices saying as much, and his frustration has come with production. He was a major part of Cincinnati’s finish against Tennessee, helping the Bengals pull out the overtime win.
Joe Burrow’s own reaction after that game pointed to a team that believes it can keep surviving these kinds of moments. His comments, as noted, “stoke a growing confidence in the team’s ability to overcome adversity, even when mistakes threaten to derail a victory.”
Still, the early-game issue is hanging over the Bengals. The opening script has been working for opponents and not for Cincinnati, and that has been true even against a Ravens team without Lamar Jackson and a one-win Titans team. That’s what makes the problem feel so jarring.
There’s also a different kind of challenge ahead, with the Bengals adjusting their routine for the trip to Madrid against the Falcons. Taylor is taking the team there earlier than usual, with a Tuesday flight and a six-day week built in after lessons from previous international games.
On top of that, Cincinnati has already revealed its Week 9 uniform combination against Atlanta. It will be the sixth time the Bengals have worn that look and the first time in 2026. The team wore it three times in 2025, and the orange pants that are part of the rotation were introduced ahead of the 2024 season and have been worn nine times total.
Elsewhere around the team, there was a scary scene that appears to have brought positive updates, and the trade market has already started to move with the deadline a week away. More action could still be coming.
In Other News...
Joe Flacco Just Weighed In On Caleb Williams Cleats Controversy
Joe Flacco has found himself in the middle of a cleats controversy far from Cincinnati, and he is not exactly staying neutral. The Bengals backup quarterback, who is also an investor in Caddix, stepped in after Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams drew an NFL fine for wearing unauthorized Caddix cleats. Flacco said the shoes are ones he has worn for years, adding another layer to a situation that has already spilled beyond the field and into the leagues enforcement of uniform rules.
Caddix has been publicly backing Williams as well, even putting up a billboard in Chicago to show support. With the brand now getting attention for the wrong kind of reason, Flaccos involvement gives the dispute a little more star power and a lot more visibility. The next question is how far he is willing to go if the league keeps pressing the issue. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Suddenly Have A Defensive Problem They Cant Ignore
The Bengals are heading into their matchup with the Falcons at 5-2, but the defensive front took a hit this week with rookie lineman Cashius Howell landing on injured reserve because of a wrist injury that required surgery. For a team that has leaned on its defense to help fuel an early-season surge, losing a young piece in the rotation is the kind of setback that gets noticed quickly.
Howell, a second-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, had already carved out a role in seven games this season, finishing with six tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack. Cincinnati will have to sort out how to replace that production and keep its pass rush on track, even as the bigger question now is how long it will be without one of its promising rookies. [Read more 🡒]
Zac Taylor Sent A Clear Message Before Bengals Head To Madrid
With the Bengals headed to Madrid for their Week 9 matchup against the Falcons, Zac Taylor made sure the message stayed centered on football. The Cincinnati coach framed the trip as a business assignment first and foremost, stressing that the focus is winning the game while any time for sightseeing will be limited.
Taylor also acknowledged that the off-field logistics will be a little less comfortable than the on-field ones. His Spanish is limited, so he said he will lean on translation help to get through the trip, another reminder that this international visit is as much about adapting to a new setting as it is about preparing for Atlanta. [Read more 🡒]