The Bengals continue their losing streak with a disappointing showing against Washington
As they exited the field following Monday night’s confounding loss to the upstart Washington Commanders, Joe Burrow and Zac Taylor walked past the Bengals team locker room and headed instead through the back door leading to the coaches’ offices. Defensive Coordinator Lou Anarumo followed behind them. An impromptu emergency meeting was necessary in the wake of a once-promising season that had now quickly found itself on life support.
Neither Burrow or Taylor shared the details of what was discussed except that it was a mutual decision to huddle afterwards, and, according to Burrow, “it was a very positive conversation.”
Across the Who-Dey fanbase Monday night, there was little positive conversation happening. Bengals fans were in full-on-freak-out mode and emphatically pressing the panic button after an 0-3 start to the season. Music can help one positively cope with their feelings of anger. Cue this week’s playlist.
“Don’t stop me now. ‘Cause I’m having a good time. Yes, I’m having a good time.”
“Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen
The Bengals defense was unable to stop the Commanders offense all night, and their rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels was having a good time. In the duel between two Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks from LSU, it was Daniels that emerged victorious and announced himself to the world under the national television spotlight.
Daniels completed 21 of 23 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns while running untouched into the endzone for another. Daniels completed 91.3% of his passes, establishing a new record for the highest completion percentage by a rookie in NFL History.
The Bengals defense turned in one of their worst performances in team history. The defense failed to register a single stop, allowing five touchdowns and a field goal to the Commanders on their six possessions, not resulting in kneel-downs at the end of both halves.
After the Bengals had maneuvered within striking distance at 31-25 in the 4th quarter, Daniels was perfect on all seven of his passes while engineering a clock-killing 70-yard drive that effectively cemented the contest for Washington. Daniels culminated that scoring drive on 3rd down and 7 with a picture perfect 27-yard strike deep to Terry McLaurin in the corner of the endzone.
In the leadup to this week’s game, Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt had poked fun at the Commanders’ offense, saying it was a “nice college offense.”
Daniels was asked afterwards about the Bengals defense. “They didn’t make me do a lot,” Daniels said. “They kept it really simple for me. Nice college defense.”
“This is our last dance. This is our last dance. This is ourselves. Under pressure.”
“Under Pressure” by David Bowie and Queen
A big reason for Daniels’ success against Cincinnati was that he was rarely under pressure by the Bengals pass rush.
Daniels oftentimes had all day to survey the field, his average time to throw on Monday was 3.13 seconds. By comparison, Joe Burrow finished around 2.06 seconds.
Outside of Trey Hendrickson, who registered another sack against Washington, the Bengals are without a pass rusher capable of consistently applying pressure on opposing quarterbacks. All offseason, the frailties of the defensive line and the need for a pass rushing threat from the interior were discussed, yet this liability was never adequately addressed.
With their top two interior defenders inactive against Washington, Cincinnati were forced to rely on defensive tackles that were in jeopardy of even making the final roster or directly off the street. The Bengals desperately need to get healthy along the defensive line in a hurry and devise a way to achieve some production outside of Hendrickson.
On Monday, the Bengals welcomed into their Ring of Honor two of the toughest players to ever wear the Bengal tiger stripes, running back Corey Dillon and nose tackle Tim Krumrie. The aforementioned Krumrie has become a Bengals folk hero for the indomitable spirit and unmatched toughness he demonstrated over his career.
Perhaps it’s appropriate that Krumrie was brought back into focus with his induction. For it is Krumrie’s trademark toughness that the current Bengals defenders need to rediscover and unearth. They need to look within themselves. Otherwise, this could become the Bengals’ last dance.
“Say it ain’t so. Your drug is a heartbreaker.”
“Say It Ain’t So” by Weezer
The abysmal defense performance wasted a good outing by the Bengals offense.
Like the Commanders, the Bengals did not punt or turn over the football. Of their seven possessions, four were converted into touchdowns, two led to field goals by Evan McPherson and 1 finished on a missed McPherson field goal attempt.
Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Burrow re-discovered their connection again with Burrow finding Chase on two touchdown throws including a 41-yarder that began the scoring on the game’s opening drive. It was clear that the Bengals were making a concerted effort to get Chase more involved in the offense.
It helped that Tee Higgins finally returned to the field for the first time this season to take the pressure off Chase and create a threat opposite him. On the season, the Bengals offense is 4th in EPA (Expected Points Added) and 1st in success rate. Yet – here they are – at 0-3. Say it ain’t so.
The Bengals still haven’t found a way to make the critical plays at the right time to win close games. You combine McPherson’s missed field goal with a failed two-point conversion attempt from Burrow to Chase and those five points represent the difference in the game’s final score, 38-33.
By consistently coming up short at key times, the Bengals’ drug has been heartbreak for Who-Dey fans.
“’Cause baby, it ain’t over ‘til it’s over.”
“It Ain’t Over ‘til It’s Over” by Lenny Kravitz
The hole is deep but there is still a chance. Since 1990, 162 teams have started 0-3, and four of those teams have made the playoffs. Ted Karras was asked after the game had he ever been 0-3; his response was yes, and that team went on to win a state championship in high school.
Burrow echoed a similar “never give up” attitude in the post-game press conference. “By no means is the season over,” Burrow said.
The Bengals need to heed Yogi Berra’s sage advice and adhere to the cliched “one game at a time” approach.
Up next, former Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton and the Carolina Panthers.
The ship may seem like it’s sinking right now and nearly all the lifeboats are gone. Given the preseason expectations and talent on the Bengals squad, it may seem like a Titanic level disaster in Bengals fans’ minds. But don’t give up hope yet Who-Dey Nation.
Stay true and channel the Titanic ballad sung by Celine Dion when it comes to your fandom for the hometown squad: “My heart will go on.”
Who-Dey?!
Jon Bunch is an avid life-long Bengals fanatic. Raised in the 740. West Pointer, Army and Iraq War veteran. Passionate evangelist of the Who-Dey spirit. @WhoDeyBunch
