As the Cincinnati Bengals find themselves mired in a disappointing 4-8 season, head coach Zac Taylor and defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo are stepping up to shoulder the blame for the team’s struggles. The Bengals have lost three straight games, with the latest being a 44-38 defeat at the hands of their AFC North rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Coaches Take Responsibility
In a candid press conference on Monday, Taylor didn’t mince words about where the responsibility lies for the Bengals’ poor performance. “I’m not going to sit here and put this on the players,” he said. “As the head coach, you sit there and you’re four and eight. You’re a four and eight head coach. And that starts with you. To get the most out of everybody, that’s my job.”
Anarumo echoed his head coach’s sentiments, emphasizing that the defense’s struggles fall squarely on his shoulders. “Obviously all of this starts and ends with me,” he said. “How we play is certainly my responsibility. I think the players have done a fantastic job of preparing, practicing with energy, giving us their best. I’m proud of the way we’ve gone about that. We need to do a better job — I need to do a better job of making sure it shows up on Sundays.”
Historical Offensive Woes
The Bengals’ loss to the Steelers was particularly painful, as it made them the first team in NFL history to lose four games in a season while scoring at least 33 points in those contests. This highlights the defense’s inability to support the efforts of quarterback Joe Burrow and the offense, which has put up impressive numbers despite the team’s losing record.
Tackling Issues Persist
Anarumo pointed to tackling as a key area where the defense has struggled, counting at least 12 missed tackles in the loss to Pittsburgh. This has been a recurring issue throughout the season and a significant contributor to the 37 offensive points the Bengals allowed on Sunday.
“We all know, as NFL coaches, what we signed up for. My concerns are our players and getting them in the best position to be successful on Sundays. That’s all I think about.”
– Lou Anarumo, Bengals Defensive Coordinator
Player Support for Coaches
Despite the team’s struggles, players have been quick to defend their coaches. Second-year safety Jordan Battle, who made his first start of the season against the Steelers, emphasized that the blame doesn’t fall solely on Anarumo. “He’s always going to put the blame on himself,” Battle said. “In reality, it’s not Coach Lou. It’s all of us as one. We have to do our job when Coach Lou calls the play. And we can always save the down with any call that we have.”
Staying Positive Amid Adversity
Taylor and his staff are no strangers to adversity, having won just six combined games in 2019 and 2020 before leading the Bengals to the Super Bowl in 2021 and the AFC Championship Game in 2022. The head coach sees the current situation as an opportunity to evaluate the team and identify the players who will be part of the franchise’s future success.
“Often times, you all have watched me sit up here for six years and fight through a lot of adversity. I see what’s on the other side of it. You see the people you want to do it with. Right now, this serves as an opportunity to evaluate the people you want to continue to do it with.”
– Zac Taylor, Bengals Head Coach
Looking Ahead to Monday Night
The Bengals will have a chance to start turning things around next week when they face the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football. Taylor sees the primetime matchup as a great opportunity for his team to show their mettle and respond to the challenges they’ve faced this season.
As the Bengals navigate this difficult stretch, the accountability shown by their head coach and defensive coordinator could be the first step in righting the ship. While a playoff berth may be out of reach, the team’s performance in the coming weeks will provide valuable insight into the character and resilience of the players and coaching staff as they look to build for the future.
