Cincinnati Had No Shortage Of Scapegoats On Sunday Night
Credit: Sam Greene via Imagn Images
It was a heartbreaking night for the Cincinnati Bengals, as they head into their Week 12 bye with a 4-7 record after falling to the Los Angeles Chargers by a final score of 34-27. The loss puts the Bengals well out of reach of the AFC playoff picture, especially considering that gaining ground on the Chargers, who remain in the AFC’s Wild Card picture, was crucial for the Bengals to have any hope for their final six games.
Speaking of dashed hopes, a monumental second-half comeback from down 24-6 to tie the game at 27-27 fell just short. Two consecutive missed field goals by Evan McPherson, two straight massive catches for Ladd McConkey, and a 29-yard J.K. Dobbins touchdown scamper enabled the Chargers to seal both their victory and the Bengals’ fate.
What are our top takeaways from the Sunday Night defeat?
Mobile Quarterbacks Continue To Haunt
The Bengals gave up 65 rushing yards to Justin Herbert, which is the most the Bengals surrendered to a QB all season. The first half, in particular, saw:
– a 20-yard rush on 2nd & 15 for a first down. The drive ended in a touchdown.
– a 30-yard rush on 2nd & 5 for a first down. The drive also resulted in a touchdown
– a 9-yard rush on 3rd & 8 and a first down, which led to a Chargers’ field goal.
Justin Herbert reached a max speed of 20.50 MPH on this scramble, per @NextGenStats.
This is the 2nd-fastest max speed of Herbert’s career. pic.twitter.com/rFnXbd295n
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) November 18, 2024
Herbert made the Bengals’ defense look silly on massive gains, which was a big reason why the Chargers were able to jump out to a massive first-half lead. Herbert also made his fair share of plays through the air, but the Bengals’ inability to contain him as a rusher was the key to the Chargers starting fast enough to weather the second-half storm.
The Bengals have allowed 36.5 rushing yards per game to quarterbacks. Only the Cleveland Browns (37.1) have a worse per-game average.
The Inability To Finish Games Continues
Even though the Bengals scored 21 unanswered points and made Sunday night’s game extremely interesting, the comeback ultimately fell just short, as the Chargers pulled off the 34-27 victory. Evan McPherson got the yips in his kicking leg and the Bengals allowed three plays of 28, 27, and 29 yards respectively on the Chargers’ final offensive drive, and all of those collectively were the Bengals’ undoing on Sunday night.
(Not so fun fact – the 34 points the Bengals gave up to the Chargers are the fewest points that Cincinnati has allowed in a loss since Week 2).
The Bengals continued the unfortunate “We were one play away” trend that seems to rear its ugly head when the Bengals play quality teams. In particular, the Bengals’ matchups with Kansas City, Baltimore, and Baltimore again all came down to one final play, none of which went in the Bengals’ favor.
With the Bengals now well out of the playoff race, the mantra has officially worn out its welcome. If one sentence could sum up the sad trend, I may have found it.
I’m tired of the Bengals being on the losing end of the best games of the year
— Alex Schubert (@alexschubes) November 18, 2024
It’s a harsh reality, but a reality nonetheless. Even the players don’t know what to make of it.
Ja’Marr Chase is also frustrated with team’s inability to finish games. How? “Ask Zac. Ask the coaches. Don’t ask me. I play football on the field. I don’t call plays for us.” pic.twitter.com/GOzY5EjOhS
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) November 18, 2024
The bottom fell out of the Bengals at the exact wrong time, and the team now has an entire bye week to search for answers to its inability to close out games.
Evan McPherson Isn’t the Only Scapegoat
Yes, the “You Had One Job!” crowd has a legitimate grievance with Evan McPherson for missing two straight field goals in the fourth quarter. The Bengals had multiple chances to take the lead after an improbable second-half comeback, and McPherson missing wide left twice after two straight quality drives into field-goal range squandered each of those chances. In a season where finger-pointing has been the go-to coping mechanism, McPherson and his sudden case of the yips is the easiest target.
Evan McPherson missed TWO go-ahead field goals in the 4th quarter 😳
BUT. Cincinnati just got the ball back after a three-&-out & he may have another chance… pic.twitter.com/9dn6afkOHW
— BlitzBuzz (@BlitzBuzzX) November 18, 2024
HOWEVER.
In addition to the above mentioned defensive failures, Zac Taylor calling two straight pass plays on second and third down when the Bengals had the opportunity to eat up the clock gave the Chargers multiple opportunities to ice the game, which they capitalized on. Those two pass plays were both incompletions, allowing the Chargers to preserve their final two timeouts.
When asked about the Bengals’ inability to finish close games, Ja’Marr Chase was seemingly at a loss for words. “I play football on the field,” Chase said. “I don’t call plays for us, you know? So I can’t really do nothing.”
Unfortunately for those expecting significant systemic adjustments during the bye week, Taylor has already said that major changes will not be taking place.
Joe Burrow Is Definitely Not A Scapegoat
Joe Burrow has now become the first quarterback in 2024 to eclipse the 3,000 yard mark in terms of passing yards.
Joe Burrow this season:
– 3,028 passing yards
– 27 TDs
– 4 INTsThe #Bengals are 4-7…
He should be the MVP favorite but instead he'll likely miss the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/t5L3iO6RMG
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 18, 2024
His 27 touchdowns are also an NFL high.
It’s disheartening to watch Joe Burrow, who helped transform the entire city of Cincinnati upon being drafted in 2020, look dejected at postgame pressers despite playing at an outrageously high level. His 27:4 TD to interception ratio is far and away among the best in the league, but that production has only amounted to four wins, all of which have come against teams that are currently in last place.
Burrow has faced blame for Bengals’ losses, but that blame has seemed to dissipate as the season has gotten deeper as the defense and special teams continue to let the Bengals down. Counting the loss tonight, Joey B has an 18:2 TD to interception ratio in the Bengals’ seven losses this season.
Benching Cam-Taylor Britt Was Addition By Subtraction
Cam Taylor-Britt’s struggles have been duely noted in 2024. His lackluster in-game performance came to a breaking point during the first half, when he allowed a wide-open touchdown to Quentin Johnston that put the Chargers ahead 14-6. Mercifully, after that, he was benched.
Decent chance Cam Taylor-Britt (29) blew this coverage on the Quentin Johnston TD in the second quarter. He hasn't played a snap since, as @Ben_Baby noted. pic.twitter.com/MZVww6u7XP
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) November 18, 2024
Josh Newton, the Bengals’ fifth-round pick from 2024, promptly came into the game on defense, and he just happened to be Quentin Johnston’s college teammate.
What a night for Josh Newton. Off the bench and making plays, including the biggest PBU of the night to force a punt on third down.
Feels like that job is now his.
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) November 18, 2024
Newton was not highly heralded coming out of TCU, but after Taylor-Britt struggled yet again, the rookie got his chance and never looked back. He was a significant part of the defensive performance that held the Chargers, led by a previously scorching-hot Herbert, scoreless for the majority of the second half.
Taylor-Britt drew back into the game after DJ Turner left the game with a clavicle injury, but Newton appears to have made his mark. It’s highly likely that CTB will cede snaps to the rookie cornerback following next week’s bye.
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