Amid a season gone awry, the Cincinnati Bengals are considering how much to use Ja’Marr Chase, and head coach Zac Taylor addressed Chase’s recent remarks about the coaching staff. These factors contribute to why Taylor may be on the hot seat after the Bengals’ loss to the Chargers.
Currently, Taylor is ranked fourth on cbssports.com’s hot seat list, behind Mike McCarthy, Matt Eberflus, and struggling Doug Pederson.
Looking at Taylor’s overall record, he had a rough start with a 2-14 finish in 2019, followed by 4-11-1, 10-7, 12-4, and 9-8 records. He led the Bengals to the Super Bowl in 2021, but this season the team is 4-7, leaving Taylor in a difficult position with the franchise.
One of the worst things a coach can do is let a promising season slip away, and the Bengals did just that. Taylor’s failure to prepare his team for the season opener against New England set the tone for the entire year. Cincinnati also lost key games to the Chiefs and Commanders, falling into an 0-3 hole. Although they had a chance to recover, a close loss to the Ravens worsened the situation. If the Bengals had won that game, they could have entered their matchup with the Eagles on a four-game win streak. However, after winning three of four, the Bengals lost to the Eagles, Ravens, and Chargers, with the latter two losses being especially close, raising concerns about Taylor’s control over the team.
Despite this, quarterback Joe Burrow is having an outstanding season with 3,028 yards, 27 touchdowns, and only four interceptions, on pace for a team-record 42 touchdowns. Ja’Marr Chase also continues to excel with 73 catches for 1,056 yards and 12 touchdowns, which puts him on track for 1,632 yards, 113 catches, and 19 touchdowns.
Even with these impressive individual performances, the playoffs seem like a long shot. Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher explained that the team’s offensive success is the result of a player-centric approach, designed to maximize players’ strengths. Chase has been used more flexibly this season, moving around to get better opportunities, which has helped the offense.
However, despite this offensive success, the Bengals’ struggles to win games are ultimately Taylor’s responsibility. The Bengals (4-7) are still not out of playoff contention, with a 14% chance to make it according to ESPN and The New York Times. If they win their final six games, their playoff chances rise to 94%, though it would require a sweep of the Steelers, a tough challenge despite their explosive offense.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano noted that if the Bengals manage to sneak into the playoffs, they could be a dangerous team due to their championship-caliber offense. Taylor himself acknowledged the team’s ongoing fight and frustration but expressed confidence that they will be on track moving forward.
Though Taylor is under pressure, NFL insider Albert Breer suggested that the Bengals are likely to retain him for 2025. Breer argued that the coaching issue isn’t the primary problem; instead, the defense, particularly with injuries and key departures, has been a major factor. With defensive struggles, the Bengals have found themselves in shootouts, which has put even more pressure on their offense.
Leave a Reply