Bengals postgame wrap following loss to Ravens
Enquirer beat writer Kelsey Conway breaks down the Bengals’ 24-0 loss to the Ravens on Dec. 14.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and his team were eliminated from the postseason for a third consecutive season in embarrassing fashion on Dec. 14 at Paycor Stadium.
The Bengals’ 24-0 loss to Baltimore Ravens put the Bengals in a place no one saw coming following 2021-22 seasons. Cincinnati was once viewed as a perennial AFC contender with Burrow at the helm.
Three seasons have passed since the Bengals’ AFC championship appearance, and each one has left Burrow sitting at home when the postseason begins. This week, Cincinnati’s star quarterback dominated the NFL news cycle in a way that left fans and media questioning if Burrow wants out of Cincinnati.
Burrow addressed his comments about finding joy in playing football from his Dec. 10 press conference following the Week 14 loss to the Ravens. When asked if he’s happy playing football in Cincinnati, Burrow took time to clear the air.
“My (Wednesday) comments had nothing to do with Cincinnati,” Burrow said. “My comments had everything to do with me and my mindset, and football.”
The Bengals didn’t score a point on offense against the Ravens. It was an uncharacteristically bad performance by Burrow, and he took full responsibility.
He completed 25 of 39 pass attempts for 225 yards and threw two interceptions, including a pick-six for a second consecutive week.
“I think this is one of the worst games I’ve played,” Burrow said. “I’m honest with myself and my play. I hold myself to a high standard and today didn’t come close.”
Cincinnati’s current record compared to the expectations set for the Bengals ahead of the year begs the question of whether changes will be made internally. Typically, in the NFL, three years of missing the playoffs results in some sort of organizational change.
Burrow is standing by his head coach Zac Taylor and the Bengals’ front office. He was asked directly if he still has confidence in the people in charge of putting together the roster in Cincinnati.
“A lot of confidence,” he said. “Because I know how hard people work at it, and we have the right people. It starts with players playing better, and today it was me.”
Burrow admitted the Bengals “haven’t been a good football team” this year. Cincinnati has the worst defense in the NFL in three major metrics: Points allowed per game (31.2), yards allowed (403.8) and rush defense (157.9).
The Bengals knew they needed to fix their defense following an abysmal season on that side of the ball in 2023. Firing former defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo was the step the organization believed would fix all of their issues.
And what the Bengals – and the rest of the NFL – found out this year is that Cincinnati’s defensive issues go beyond coaching. The lack of talent and development on the defensive side of the ball is the culprit of the Bengals’ issues.
Cincinnati has drafted 17 defensive players since 2022. Only a handful of those players have panned out. And when the Bengals paid wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Burrow what they did, the organization was going to have to build its defense through the draft.
Free agency should be used to complement what the team builds through the draft. The best teams in the NFL draft consistently well and use free agency to fill holes needed.
Look no further than the Denver Broncos (11-2), Green Bay Packers (9-3-1) and Los Angeles Rams (10-3) as teams that have built defenses through the draft.
The Bengals have become an organization centered around their offense. With Burrow, Higgins and Chase on the roster, the Bengals believe they can win against any team.
And what they’ve now proved two years in a row is that strategy is flawed. Cincinnati needs to build a better team around those three players to at least give them a chance to reach their full potential.
“It’s frustrating,” Taylor said. “This is a team I thought was a talented team that was going to have a chance to do big things this year.”
