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The Bengals are 1-4 and tied for final scheme within the AFC North heading accurate into a ‘Sunday Evening Football’ matchup in opposition to the Giants in Week 6.
That increases the stress on sixth-year coach Zac Taylor to engineer a turnaround. Cincinnati lost to division rival Baltimore 41-38 in Week 5, and Taylor has taken criticism for the vogue beyond frequent time unfolded.
Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt recovered a Lamar Jackson fumble on the first possession, however Cincinnati settled for a fifty three-yard field-purpose strive. Evan McPherson uncared for the strive, and Baltimore spoke back with the game-profitable field purpose.
“I purchased to position us in a greater scheme, in actual fact,” Taylor stated by ESPN.com. “There is alternative abilities on the team, and since the coach, you might maybe presumably perchance presumably procure bought to catch methods to maximize that and be particular we’re strolling off with wins, and I procure not done a good sufficient job with that.”
Yet one other slack initiate below Taylor and attach Cincinnati within the motivate of in a tight AFC playoff urge. How well-known warmth is Taylor below now? A closer procure a study the coach’s sizzling seat:
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Bengals document with Zac Taylor Taylor is 38-forty eight-1 since taking on as Cincinnati’s head coach in 2019, however that document is deceptive.
The first two seasons, which amounted to a 6-25-1 document, were portion of a rebuild. Cincinnati took Joe Burrow with the No. 1 pick within the 2020 NFL Draft and receiver JaMarr Dawdle with the No. 5 pick within the 2021 NFL Draft.
That helped reverse the fortunes of the franchise. The Bengals done 10-7 in 2021, and they also made a bustle to Colossal Bowl LVI, where they lost to the Los Angeles Rams 23-30.
Cincinnati done 12-4 the next season and made the AFC championship game. The Bengals lost to the Chiefs 23-20. In 2023, Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist hurt and the Bengals done 9-8. Now, Cincinnati is 1-4 and susceptible to lacking the postseason for the 2nd straight year.
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Cincinnati’s slack begins below Zac Taylor Irrespective of that success, Cincinnati has turn out to be known for slack begins the previous few seasons. A ogle at the Bengals’ document by five games every of the final four seasons:
YEAR RECORD THROUGH 5 GAMES 2021 3-2 2022 2-3 2023 2-3 2024 1-4 The Bengals started 0-2 in 2022 and 2023, and they also were 0-3 this season sooner than beating Carolina 34-24 in Week 4. Those slack begins were a frequent criticism of Taylor.
Zac Taylor contract Taylor is below contract with the Bengals by 2026. He signed an extension in 2022 after main Cincinnati to an appearance within the Colossal Bowl. Terms of the buyout weren’t disclosed, and per reports, Taylor makes $4.5 million per season.
Of coaches whose salaries are available, simplest four coaches procure a decrease annual wage.
How sizzling is the coaching seat below Zac Taylor? There are varied components that procure performed into the Bengals’ slack initiate.
The franchise has downplayed contract disputes spirited three critical particular person gamers. Dawdle has no plans to barter a prolonged-timeframe deal through the season and would potentially be a free agent in 2026. Tee Higgins is below a franchise imprint this season, and edge rusher Trey Hendrickson requested a alternate through the offseason. Taylor cannot be blamed for these eventualities.
Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who has been with Taylor over the final six seasons, is feeling more stress now. Cincinnati ranks Thirty first in scoring defense (31.0 ppg.) and 26th in entire defense (365.4 ypg.) and the Ravens racked up 520 entire yards in Week 5. The Bengals procure handled several injuries on defense, the most up-to-date coming when cornerback Dax Hill suffered a torn ACL. Still, this team misses D.J. Reader, who signed with Detroit this offseason.
That is the identical team that lost 26-25 to Kansas City in Week 2 in a matchup determined by a controversial cross interference call within the game’s closing force, and the Bengals are the final team to beat the Chiefs within the playoffs.
Burrow leads the NFL with 12 TD passes and has a profession-excessive 72.3-percent completion percentage. There nonetheless is time to salvage motivate within the AFC playoff mix over the next four games, a stretch that entails the Giants, Browns, Eagles, and Raiders.
A coaching change appears to be like not going given Brown’s historical previous of conserving coaches, in particular if the connection between Taylor and Burrow stays regular and will get the Bengals motivate heading within the appropriate direction, however within the future, Taylor wants to initiate profitable to ensure his job is stable.