NFL Analysis
9/25/24
4 min read
Will The Bengals Rebound From Another Brutal Start Under Zac Taylor, Joe Burrow?
The Cincinnati Bengals are in trouble.
An upset loss to the Washington Commanders on Monday night has the Bengals finding themselves in a 0-3 hole to start the 2024 season. Although they've had slow starts in the past, including 0-2 starts in three of the previous four seasons, this is the first time that the Bengals have gone winless in their first three games since their 2-14 season in 2019.
It's a brutal start for a team with playoff and Super Bowl aspirations. Only four teams since 1990 have started 0-3 and made the playoffs, with the 2018 Houston Texans being the most recent team to do so. There's only a 2.5 percent chance historically for a team like the Bengals to turn things around quickly enough to find their way into the postseason.
Even if there's an outside chance for the Bengals to get into the playoffs, there's a lot that needs to break their way in the next 14 games.
The Bengals Epic Early Season Collapse
Despite so much star power on the offense, Cincinnati's defense is holding it back.
The Bengals allow 26.7 points per game, the seventh-most points through three games. Their pass defense is particularly concerning, allowing the third-highest completion percentage at 75 percent with a 102.0 passer rating.
The advanced metrics aren't high on the Bengals' defense, either. Pro Football Focus had them as the 21st-ranked defense, while FTN Fantasy has them as the 24th team by defensive DVOA and 26th in pass defense.
To fuel the fire, CB Cam Taylor-Britt is now under public scrutiny for his comments before Monday night's game. The Bengals veteran called out Jaylen Daniels and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, saying that they ran a "nice college offense."
Head coach Zac Taylor responded to Taylor-Britt's remarks following the loss.
@MySportsUpdate pic.twitter.com/jtG8YGBg0N
— Ari M (@AriMeirov) September 24, 2024
That's unnecessary drama for a team that's trying to figure themselves out and get their first win of the year.
The Bengals also need to find some more balance offensively. Running backs Zack Moss and Chase Brown have flashed throughout the first few games, but the Bengals have the league's second-fewest rushing attempts. That's especially concerning, considering they have the second-most efficient rushing offense by DVOA.
Brown could be a particularly effective weapon with a heavier workload, given his burst and contact balance.
Chase Brown continues to make things happen for the Bengals run game. 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/MQD4B22Dkf
— NFL Canada (@NFLCanada) September 24, 2024
Even the special teams have been letting the Bengals down this year. They have one of the lowest average punt return yardages, Evan McPherson has already missed a field goal and an extra point, and they rank 28th as a team in special teams DVOA.
Cincinnati has too much going wrong right now. However, despite all of those issues, the Bengals can still turn things around.
Don't Count The Bengals Out... Yet
The Bengals' 0-3 start can be an afterthought if they take advantage of the rest of their schedule.
The Bengals' remaining schedule is the 10th-easiest by opponent win percentage. It includes games against teams like the Titans, Panthers, Broncos, Giants, and Raiders, as well as a pair of games against a divisional opponent, the Cleveland Browns.
Those divisional games will be massive for Cincinnati's playoff hopes. The AFC North is wide open, with every team having a losing record in the division besides the 3-0 Pittsburgh Steelers, who still look like a beatable team despite their perfect start to the season. The Bengals have all six divisional games left, which can help them quickly cover ground in the standings.
Joe Burrow will need to play like one of the NFL's best quarterbacks. The good news is that he's been playing like one despite the 0-3 start. He's posting close to career numbers through three games with a 107.5 passer rating, completing 70.9 percent of his passes for 746 yards, five touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
Ja'Marr Chase looked like an All-Pro again on Monday night, but it's the emergence of an unlikely hero in Andrei Iosivas, who has added another wrinkle to the passing game.
A second-year wideout out of Princeton, the 6-foot-3 receiver already has 10 catches for 85 yards and three touchdowns through three games. He's stepped up in limited opportunities, giving the Bengals a true No. 3 receiver behind Chase and Tee Higgins.
It's still a long shot, but the upcoming schedule and an exciting passing game should have the Bengals in position to get back on track in the next few weeks, starting with a winnable game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
