Another Sunday, Same Story: The Bengals Rollercoaster Season Finds No Silver Lining in Week 11

Another Sunday brings another loss for the Cincinnati Bengals. After receiving phenomenal news regarding star quarterback Joe Burrow’s return to practice on Monday, fans hoped that his presence on the field would be the fire the Bengals needed heading into Week 11’s rematch against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Instead, what transpired was a 12-34 final score, putting the Bengals further down in the AFC North with a 3-7 record. This latest game placed head coach Zac Taylor’s leadership in the hot seat once again, and it is a testament to the team’s rollercoaster season.

Unlike games from the last few weeks, this was nowhere near a close call, but an utter disappointment defined by the lack of offensive execution and a defense that wore down after repeated poor field position. The loss exposed the team’s Achilles’ heel, their inability to win the turnover battle and stop the run. The Bengals hold one of the worst turnover differentials in the league, and that pattern held in Pittsburgh, as costly offensive mistakes allowed the Steelers to capitalize on opportunities to score. Exacerbating the issue, the Bengals’ defence, although notorious for its lack of performance, was utterly demolished, allowing the Steelers’ running backs to control the clock and dictate the tempo for four full quarters. This systemic failure to execute the fundamentals is a clear testament to the coaching staff and why the Zac Taylor era remains plagued by doubt, leaving fans wondering if this frustrating season can be salvaged even under the leadership of veteran quarterback Joe Flacco.  

Fans can surmise that Pittsburgh entered this Sunday’s game with a streak of vengeance in their eyes after falling short to the Bengals’ last-minute 33-31 victory in Week Seven. In that victory, Ja’Marr Chase recorded a franchise record 16 catches for 161 yards, and the offense accumulated over 470 total net yards. However, in Week 11’s rematch was a stark regression back to the Bengal Blues. Pittsburgh’s defense made the necessary adjustments heading into this rematch, but Cincinnati’s lack of urgency has erased that elite production and held Chase to a mere three catches for 30 yards. The raw hostility of the AFC North rivalry was spotlighted by the altercation between Chase and the Steelers’ cornerback Jalen Ramsey, where Ramsey threw a punch at Chase late in the game, resulting in his ejection. 

The Bengals face a devastating reality that no matter the change in leadership, with Joe Flacco and the surprise return of their franchise quarterback, this latest loss may be the nail in their coffin this season. With the final whistle blown in Week 11, the inauspicious 34-12 score dismantled any hope of a salvageable season. The hope brought by Burrow’s return at the beginning of the week was quickly demolished as the team delivered another frustrating performance this season. After this week’s performance, the question shifts from “Can Cincinnati salvage what’s left of their season?” to what has been looming since the beginning of the Zac Taylor era: “Is Zac Taylor the right person to lead the rebuild after a frustrating and devastating season?”