Williams: Lots to be alarmed about in Cincinnati Bengals' loss to New England Patriots
Everyone came happily wearing orange to Paycor Stadium.
They left with red faces.
They had every right to be spitting angry after the Bengals’ 16-10 loss to the lowly New England Patriots, especially at Bengals coach Zac Taylor.
Players say Taylor ran a tougher training camp to try to reverse the Bengals' history of slow starts during his tenure. But it's the same ol', same ol' season-opening narrative: The Bengals flat out weren’t prepared to play. They were hardly competitive. They were uninspired and stunk in every facet of the game.
There’s no excuse for this one, and certainly plenty of things to be alarmed about as the Bengals prepare to head to Kansas City to face the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs. The Bengals opened at home in front of a sold-out crowd, which answered the call to blanket the stadium in orange clothing. The weather was picture-perfect, unlike last year’s season-opening debacle in rainy Cleveland.
And the Bengals didn’t have to open against an AFC North rival like they did the past two seasons. They were given the gift of playing what’s widely projected to be one of the worst teams in the NFL this season – and they missed the layup.
Remember this one come December, when the playoff race is in full go mode. Will it come back to cost the Bengals a playoff spot? Or will it ultimately hurt their playoff seeding?
Cincinnati faces the likelihood of starting 0-2 for the third consecutive year, and for fifth time in Taylor’s six seasons. Suddenly, an opening-month schedule that looked mostly easy – except the trip to Arrowhead – doesn't look so soft anymore.
You could argue that last season’s 0-2 start came back to cost the Bengals a playoff spot. Had they won at least one of the first two games, they likely would’ve made the postseason – even with quarterback Joe Burrow sidelined for the final 1½ months of the 2023 season.
Burrow says he's healthy now, but his injury history is a big reason not to simply blow off this season-opening loss. The margin for error is razor thin for a franchise that’s built everything around the man who wears jersey No. 9.
Joe Burrow, Bengals lack explosive passing game
The downfield passing attack that Burrow and the offense is known for was nonexistent. Even still, Burrow & Co. had a chance to drive the field for a winning touchdown when the Bengals got the ball back with 3:04 left in the fourth quarter. But they gained all of five yards on the possession and had to punt. Receiver Ja'Marr Chase called it the most frustrating possession of the game.
"I don't really have an answer for you right now," Burrow said when asked about why the offense sputtered.
No big deal, though, right? The Bengals' offense always takes time to warm up. The issues shouldn't be overlooked.
Receiver Tee Higgins is suddenly out with a hamstring injury after having a good camp. Chase played well, especially considering he had food poisoning this weekend and his lack of practice time because he's been pouting about getting a new contract. Chase had a game-high 62 yards receiving, including a 28-yard reception. It was the Bengals' only catch of over 13 yards.
Chase's performance was positive, right? Sure, but be cautious. His unsettled contract situation still looms large over the franchise, and who knows if Chase will continue to play if the Bengals don't give him a new deal soon.
Perhaps we saw the fallout of the Bengals continuing to go cheap at the tight end position. Mike Gesicki, an offseason free-agent signing, bobbled Burrow’s beautifully thrown pass to the corner of the end zone in the second quarter. It was initially ruled a touchdown but overturned after a review.
On the next play, tight end Tanner Hudson caught a dart over the middle and appeared headed for the end zone. But he fumbled the ball right before he crossed the goal line. New England recovered, still leading 7-0. Later, Hudson dropped a wide open pass over the middle.
None of it is reason to panic – at least not yet – as Burrow remains upright and Chase keeps playing.
Rhamondre Stevenson gashes Cincinnati Bengals defense
But the defense is a different story. The Bengals’ supposedly improved defense got gashed by a career backup quarterback and a bunch of no-name players.
These Patriots are far removed from the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady era. Could’ve fooled the Bengals, though. Actually, the Bengals shouldn’t have been fooled. Everyone in the Bengals locker room knew the Patriots were going to hand the ball off a lot to some guy named Rhamondre Stevenson.
The fourth-year running back went for 120 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries. Stevenson hadn’t rushed for 100 yards since the 2022 season.
"We knew what they were going to do, and we just didn't stop it," Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton said.
The Bengals were one of the worst team’s at defending the run last season. They tried to address their issues on the defensive line in the offseason.
But both run-stopping defensive tackles the team drafted – second-round pick Kris Jenkins and third-round selection McKinnley Jackson – started the season on injured reserve. Backup defensive end Myles Murphy is also hurt. Veteran defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, who signed with the Bengals in the offseason, was a non-factor.
Yeah, it’s one game. But it shouldn’t be brushed off as such.
Contact columnist Jason Williams at jwilliams@enquirer.com