Cincinnati's nightmare 2024 start continued with a 38-33 home loss to the Washington Commanders on Monday night.
"We didn't envision ourselves in this spot but here we are," Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said after the game, via the Associated Press. "It's a kick in the gut when you feel really good about the team and you start off 0-3. But again, that is where we are right now. We need to find a way to win next Sunday and get this thing moving in the right direction."
The loss, in which Lou Anarumo's defense got carved up, made history. Teams with four-plus touchdowns, zero punts and zero turnovers in a game were 26-0 in the Super Bowl era heading into Monday. They are now 26-1, per NFL Research.
Poor starts are nothing new for Cincy under Taylor. It marked the third consecutive season the Bengals began 0-2, but they've avoided a 0-3 start in the past (0-2-1 in 2020). This year's start is the club's worst since it began 0-11 in 2019, the year before Joe Burrow arrived.
Cincinnati started hot with an opening-drive deep shot from Burrow to Ja'Marr Chase for a 41-yard score. However, a missed field goal, two more stalled drives, and a defense that couldn't get off the field put Burrow and Co. in a hole they'd never fully recover.
"We had our opportunities and didn't cash in on them," Burrow said. "We stalled out on some drives in the first half. That's been the common denominator these first three weeks."
The Bengals entered the season optimistically as Burrow participated fully in offseason work for the first time. The offense kicked into gear, with a healthy Tee Higgins and Chase rounding into form, but the club as a whole continues its uneven play.
On Monday night, Burrow went 29-of-38 passing for 324 yards, three passing touchdowns and zero interceptions for a 127.5 passer rating. He became just the second QB in 2024 with 300-plus pass yards and three-plus pass TDs in a game (Andy Dalton). Burrow is the only QB this season with 100-plus pass attempts and zero INTs.
Monday's loss dooms the Bengals season from a historical perspective. Since 1990, of the 162 teams that started 0-3, four have made the postseason (2.5%), one won its division (1.2%) and none have won the Super Bowl.
After the loss, reporters spotted Burrow and Taylor walking into the coach's offices rather than the locker room. The QB acknowledged the post-game discussion.
"It was a very positive conversation," Burrow said. "We're not happy with where we're at, but by no means is the season over. There will be some critical thinking that I will have to do, to see what kind of leader I want to be going forward, whatever I feel the team needs from me."
History suggests the Bengals season hangs by the thinnest of threads. But hey, at least there's still a chance.
