Stephen A. Smith blasted the Cincinnati Bengals and Zac Taylor after the team’s Week 4 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. The loss dropped Joe Burrow and Co. to a 2-2 record.
Burrow threw for 428 yards behind clean pass protection in the second-straight loss. But the offense scored just 17 points. The rushing attack charted only 23 yards. Taylor’s play-calling became predictable after Ja’Marr Chase left the game due to a concussion.
Smith criticized the Bengals coach on Tuesday’s episode of ESPN’s “First Take” show.
“The Bengals need a new head coach,” Smith said. “What has Zac Taylor done as the head coach? It’s all about Joe Burrow and him throwing the football. That’s what saves the day. When do we get to talk about Zac Taylor with the weapons that you have at your disposal, compared to what you’ve actually achieved?”
“Last time I checked, somebody who delegates responsibilities and allocates responsibilities, that person matters. How can we never mention Zac Taylor? Never,” Smith added.
Smith pointed out that the Bengals are 31st in the NFL in rush attempts, 31st in rush offense, and 27th in yards per attempt.
Cincinnati needs a running game that can take pressure off Burrow and give the offense another way to move the ball. It also needs a plan for when its top playmakers are unavailable. Burrow’s ability to read defenses and make accurate throws can cover up many problems, but he cannot be expected to solve all of them himself.
Sunday’s loss showed how costly that imbalance can be. Chase left with a concussion, and Higgins later suffered an adductor injury after catching 11 passes for 157 yards. With both receivers out, Taylor and offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher struggled to find other ways to move the ball.
The Clock Is Ticking in Cincinnati
Taylor deserves credit for building a strong locker room and leading Cincinnati to a Super Bowl appearance in 2021 and an AFC Championship appearance in 2022. However, the Bengals have gone 26-29 under him since that run and missed the playoffs in each of the past three seasons.
Team president Mike Brown has generally shown patience with Taylor, but the Bengals entered the 2026 season needing to make a deeper playoff run. Losing close games because of familiar mistakes only adds to the pressure.
The offense has struggled to finish drives, while the running game has been almost nonexistent. Defensive communication issues have also hurt the Bengals. Cincinnati travels to Miami in Week 5 looking to bounce back, and Taylor needs to show that his offense can adjust when its top options are unavailable.
