CINCINNATI, Ohio — The Bengals fell to 2-2 on the season as they were blown out on Monday night by the Broncos, 28-3.
Cincinnati committed 11 penalties in the loss and did not score a touchdown for the first time in nearly two full years.
Here is what Bengals coach Zac Taylor told reporters after the game.
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On Cincinnati’s 11 penalties:
The Bengals committed 11 penalties for 65 yards in the loss. When asked about the penalties, Taylor didn’t deflect or make excuses.
“No, it is, it is lack of discipline,” Taylor told reporters, the frustration evident in his voice. “Pre snap penalties. As a whole, it’s not nearly good enough. We’re a team that should not be having that problem.
“We can’t just hand the other team five yards and put us behind the eight ball, especially dealing with some of the stuff we got to deal with on the road. We gotta get it cleaned up.”
This candid acknowledgment comes after a game where Cincinnati’s offense repeatedly shot itself in the foot, making an already difficult road environment even more challenging.
“Never created any momentum for ourself,” Taylor explained. “Had some procedural penalties. I felt like when we did get some momentum, that put us into a first-and-15. And against a good defense, you just can’t put yourself in a hole like that.”
What makes these penalties particularly maddening is their preventable nature. These aren’t aggressive penalties that come from playing hard or physical football – they’re pre-snap mental errors that reflect a fundamental breakdown in concentration and execution.
On the offense struggling again:
“I thought our defense really, second half held them scoreless until really the last drive of the game,” Taylor noted. “And they did what they could and held them to 21 points. A good team on the road and offensively, we’re just not creating enough momentum to put points on the board.”
On the sideline interaction with Ja’Marr Chase:
When cameras caught Ja’Marr Chase visibly frustrated on the Bengals sideline during their recent loss, the video went viral on social media. Taylor didn’t just defend his star receiver in his postgame press conference. He practically celebrated Chase’s fire.
“Ja’Marr, coming off a game like this is one of my favorite players to deal with, quite frankly, because he’s just competitive,” Taylor said. “He just wants to win, and it comes across as emotional, but that’s just a captain that works his tail off.”
This perspective flips the entire narrative surrounding Chase’s sideline demeanor, showing the burning competitive drive of a player who knows he can change the game if given the opportunity.
“All he wants to do is affect the game,” Taylor continued, delving deeper into Chase’s mindset. “And oftentimes he feels like, ‘If I have the ball in my hand, I can do that.’ And I don’t disagree with him.”
Taylor took his defense of Chase even further, offering perhaps the most revealing window into their relationship:
“When I’m done coaching, he will be one of my all-time favorites for … the way he’s become the total pro that you want leading your football team and competing in practice and competing in games.”
On the adversity facing the Bengals:
“We’re four games into the season and we’ll create our identity that we can rely on, that can put points on the board and stress defenses and help our team out,” Taylor stated.
What stands out most about Taylor’s assessment is his historical perspective. Rather than panic at the team’s current state, he contextualized these struggles within the broader NFL landscape.
“I’ve been here seven years. I’ve been in the league 13 years. There’s never been a season where we didn’t face adversity in some form,” Taylor explained. “Usually it’s a lot worse than 2-2, early season adversity.”
Despite these challenges, Taylor’s message to both the team and fans remains steadfast. He sees the current 2-2 record not as a crisis but as an opportunity for growth and character development.
“It’s what teams are going to be able to stick together, find a way, find their identity, find a way to keep improving, build off the positive things we do do. And I’ve got the utmost confidence that the guys in that locker room are going to be able to do that as a coaching staff,” Taylor declared.