The 2024-2025 Bengals season will remain in fans’ minds for all the right and wrong reasons

“And now the end is near. And so I face the final curtain. My friend, I’ll say it clear. I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain.” 

“My Way” by Frank Sinatra 

The end is here. The final curtain has been drawn, and the Bengals have exited the stage from the 2024 NFL season. I’ll state my case and make it clear: the 2024 season for the Cincinnati Bengals was a disappointment.   

Joe Burrow had the finest statistical season of any quarterback in Bengals franchise history, setting new franchise records for passing yards (4,918), passing touchdowns (43), completion percentage (70.6%) and passer rating (108.5) in a single season. 

Ja’Marr Chase became just the fifth wide receiver in league history since the merger to win the receiving triple crown, leading the NFL in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. In the process, Chase set new single season franchise records for receptions (127) and yards (1708) and tied Carl Pickens for most touchdown receptions in a season (17). 

Trey Hendrickson led the NFL in Quarterback Sacks (17.5) and tied himself for the single season franchise record. Three players simultaneously had the greatest individual seasons for a quarterback, receiver and pass rusher for the Bengals franchise in the exact same season. And yet…the Bengals failed to qualify for the postseason. 

How could such exemplary individual seasons by these great players be wasted? It’s inexcusable and represents an organizational failure by the front office who assembled the supporting roster around Burrow, Chase and Hendrickson as well as the coaching staff that came up short developing the talent and consistently putting players in the positions to consistently close out close games.   

Accountability was needed. Change had to happen. Shortly after the Bengals were eliminated from the playoffs when the Denver Broncos beat the Kansas City Chiefs, changes were made. 

“Although we’ve come to the end of the road…” 

“End of the Road” by Boyz II Men 

The Bengals reached the end of the road with some coaches who were responsible for some under-performing units over the last few seasons.   

The Bengals said goodbye to defensive coordinator, Lou Anarumo, who was the architect of two Bengals defenses that had been crucial to deep postseason runs in 2021 and 2022. 

Anarumo had held the positions for six seasons, the entirety of Zac Taylor’s tenure as head coach. Though Anarumo’s defense demonstrated improvement over the Bengals final 5 game win streak, the damage the defense had done over the prior games was responsible in many ways for the Bengals missing the postseason. 

Great offensive outputs had been wasted numerous time and time again by awful outings from a historically bad Bengals defense. The Bengals set a new NFL record for the most losses in a single season when a team scored at least 33 points (4 games). Cincinnati surrendered 25.5 points per game (5th worst in the league), struggled to get off the field on third down and couldn’t stop teams in the red zone—allowing teams to score on 67.9% of their possessions (3rd worst in the league).  

Anarumo is a talented coach and coordinator who will quickly land with another organization.  The Bengals also said goodbye to linebackers coach James Bettcher and defensive line coach Marion Hobby. 

Offensive line coach, Frank Pollack, also reached the end of the road in Cincinnati. Despite his success, Joe Burrow was pressured more than any other quarterback in the league according to Pro Football Focus. Burrow ranked in the top five in sacks with 48. Player development at the position is questionable as both guards Alex Cappa and Cordell Volson seem to regress during their tenures in Cincinnati. In addition to being responsible for protecting Burrow, Pollack was also the Bengals’ run game coordinator. The Bengals have been one of the league’s worst rushing offenses each of the last three years.   

There were a number of areas responsible for the Bengals failures in 2024. Perhaps no two areas factored more prominently than the defense and the offensive line. Both the men responsible were quickly shown the door shortly after the season ended. 

“Just felt like we needed a change,” Taylor said about making the coaching decisions. “I don’t take this lightly. All we can do is make sure a season like this doesn’t happen again.”   

“Could’ve been so beautiful. Could’ve been so right.” 

“Could’ve Been” by Tiffany 

This could’ve been a beautiful season…had the defense played a little better in a few games…had the offensive line pass protected somewhat better…had Evan McPherson made one or two key field goals to close games out against Baltimore and the LA Chargers…had the Bengals not been called for pass interference on 4th and 16 against the Chiefs…had Ja’Marr Chase been signed in the offseason so the offense started strongly against New England in week one…and so the story goes on about the 2024 season. So many what ifs. 

But there were players and moments to celebrate. Before we close the book on the 2024 season, let’s celebrate the positives too. 

Most Valuable Player: Joe Burrow. Truly a season for the ages for this franchise. There is no player in the NFL today who is more valuable to their team’s success.  

Offensive Player of the Year: Ja’Marr Chase. The triple crown. 1st Team All-Pro. The best individual receiving season in the history of the organization. 

Defensive Player of the Year: Trey Hendrickson. NFL leader in sacks. The Bengals had 36 sacks this season. Hendrickson had nearly half those by himself. 1st Team All-Pro. 

Rookie of the Year: Amarius Mims. Great first season by the rookie right tackle containing some of the league’s best pass rushers. 

Newcomer of the Year: Mike Gesicki. A free agent acquisition, Gesicki’s 65 receptions were the second most by a tight end in Bengals history. 

Play of the Year: Ja’Marr Chase’s 40-yard touchdown in the final minute against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football to win the game. At 4-8, the Bengals needed a win to stay mathematically alive for the playoffs. In a 20-20 tie game, Chase’s touchdown kept hope alive and started a 5-game win streak to close the season allowing the Bengals to stay in contention for the postseason until the league’s final week. 

Game of the Year: Week 17 vs the Broncos. A 30-24 overtime thriller that was back and forth.  Three times, Joe Burrow was called upon to win the game for his team and keep the postseason hopes alive. Ultimately, Burrow delivered victory via a touchdown pass to Tee Higgins in the waning minutes of OT. Potentially Higgins’ final game in Cincinnati was perhaps his best with a 3-touchdown performance.   

2024 was a disappointing season. But it was also a fun and entertaining one. The Bengals played meaningful football until the season’s final week—taking us, as fans, along for the journey. We end the 2024 chapter and now move onto the offseason. Let’s keep hope alive for 2025.   

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