Cincinnati opened the season 2-0, including a 20-6 road win over the Houston Texans, but has now dropped two straight. The latest setback came Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who won 22-17 at Paycor Stadium. Joe Burrow threw for 428 yards and two touchdowns, but two interceptions proved costly. The Bengals are now 2-2 and sitting behind Jacksonville in the AFC playoff race.
Cincinnati moved the ball through the air, but the offense struggled to finish drives and could not establish a running game. Chase Brown managed only 10 yards on nine carries, leaving Burrow to carry too much of the offensive workload. The Bengals also had trouble protecting the ball at critical moments.
The Bengals were viewed as a top-tier AFC team after their 2-0 start, but two consecutive losses have pushed them down most Week 5 lists. The latest NFL rankings shows how much uncertainty now surrounds a 2-2 team that began the year with bigger expectations.
Where the Bengals Rank in Week 5 NFL Power Rankings
NFL.com: 9(-1)
ESPN: 15(-3)
Sports Illustrated: 16(-3)
CBS Sports: 14 (no change)
The Athletic: 15 (no change)
What Do Experts Say About the Bengals?
“Sunday’s loss to the Jaguars showed the value of Ja’Marr Chase to Joe Burrow and the rest of the Bengals’ offense. Chase’s first-half exit forced Burrow to look elsewhere, with the quarterback leaning heavily on Tee Higgins and Dohnte Meyers amid a frantic comeback attempt necessitated by the mistakes Cincinnati made earlier in the contest. Burrow threw two interceptions in a sloppy outing, a home game the Bengals will regret losing,” Nick Shook, NFL.com
“For the second straight season, the Bengals ended the first month with an even record. Cincinnati had a flat performance against the Steelers in Week 3, then had some critical errors Sunday against the Jaguars. The numbers suggest Cincinnati has actually done a lot of good things; it ranks 10th in points per drive differential. But the Bengals must find a better offensive balance and clean things up defensively in order to maximize this season,” Ben Baby, ESPN
“I mentioned this a little bit in our initial hot seat rankings, but it’s wild to me that the Bengals spent the better part of an offseason building an under-center offense and, at least through the first month of the season, it’s almost completely unusable now. What else ya got in your back pocket, Zac Taylor,” Conor Orr, SI
“At 2-2, they have injury concerns with receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. The offense is so much different if they aren’t around,” Pete Prisco, CBS Sports
Bengals Need to Fix Major Problems
Ja’Marr Chase left Sunday’s game with a concussion after catching three passes for 27 yards. Higgins, meanwhile, suffered an adductor injury late in the fourth quarter after producing 11 catches for 157 yards. Those injuries could leave Burrow working with a much thinner receiver group in Miami. Cincinnati already saw how difficult the offense became once Chase left against Jacksonville.
Burrow is producing, but the turnovers and lack of a running game are hurting him. While he was impressive against the Jaguars, two costly interceptions put the Bengals in an early hole. Burrow cannot be expected to throw his team out of every deficit single-handedly.
Cincinnati has managed only 297 rushing yards through four games, a modest total that has provided minimal balance for the offense. The Bengals need Chase Brown and the offensive line to create a more credible ground attack.
Cincinnati travels to face the Miami Dolphins in Week 5. The matchup comes at an important moment. The Bengals are still 2-2, but the offense needs to find its rhythm, the running game needs to improve and Zac Taylor’s staff must adapt if Chase or Higgins cannot play.
