Bengals News (9/17): Cincinnati needs to show how they react to a reality check

Doc’s Morning Line: 10 things to take away from Bengals’ blowout loss to 49ers
No team wipes a smile off your face faster than the Bengals. They’re the grift that keeps on giving. A week after you felt good about a loss – only in Cincinnati – you felt bad about another one. If the opening day attendance was any indication – 50,666 announced, several thousand less than that, actual – it won’t be long before you won’t be feeling anything at all.

Bengals Defense Seeks Reversal
Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo sat in the toughest of all chairs Monday when he dissected Sunday’s performance that yielded an astounding 259 rushing yards to the 49ers back-up running backs. That’s because a week ago he sat in the same chair to analyze how his guys stuffed the defending NFL rushing champions’ first-string backfield in Seattle.

Quick Hits: Taylor Makes Sure Of Monday Page Views
Zac Taylor’s day after a game routine doesn’t normally include making the team watch the game together. But then, it’s not very often a team allows 259 yards rushing while getting just 25 themselves.

Taylor's Evaluations After Week 2
We got a chance to go through that tape with the guys this morning, and our message to them was about the things that got away from us in the first half, in all three phases. We started off with a penalty on special teams. Offensively, we didn’t do the things we said we were going to do on the first drive. Then our defense gave up a touchdown, so that was a tough start, (being down) seven to nothing. Ultimately, the details we were on top of in Week 1, we let slip in Week 2. It was disappointing to see that, so we need to make those corrections. When you do go back through the tape, the encouraging thing is it’s usually only one player (making an error) on each play. We just need all 11 on the same page, and we’ll be in much better shape going forward.

Bengals Booth Podcast: Had A Bad Day
In the latest Bengals Booth Podcast, broadcasters Dan Hoard and Dave Lapham recap the week two game against the San Francisco 49ers. Fans can listen to highlights, locker room interviews and analysis.

Promising or pathetic? What's it going to be, Bengals?
Buoyed by their strong showing in a close, season-opening loss at Seattle, the Bengals looked forward to winning back fans and stamping themselves as a turnaround team at Paul Brown Stadium under new head coach Zac Taylor.

Reality check: Home opener brings Bengals back to earth
Buoyed by their strong showing in a close, season-opening loss at Seattle, the Bengals looked forward to winning back fans and stamping themselves as a turnaround team at Paul Brown Stadium under new head coach Zac Taylor. It couldn't have gone any worse.

Around the league

Dolphins S Minkah Fitzpatrick traded to Steelers
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Monday night that Fitzpatrick is going to the Steelers in exchange for a 2020 first-round pick.

Jaguars star CB Jalen Ramsey requests trade
Rapoport also noted that Ramsey's issues with the organization stem from how he's being used on defense. Ramsey has made a living out of being one of the best pure cover corners in the NFL; through the first two games of the season, defensive coordinator Todd Wash has had Ramsey play zone, an obvious difference from the man-to-man scheme he shines in.

Taco Charlton still wants out of Dallas, tweets 'free me'
Charlton has been a major disappointment since the Cowboys used the No. 28 overall pick on him in 2017. He compiled 19 tackles and three sacks in his rookie season in 16 appearances with no starts. Last year, with Dallas expecting a leap in Year 2, the 24-year-old compiled 27 tackles and just one sack in 11 games, including seven starts. He's been inactive the first two weeks of the 2019 season.

Browns DE Smith to play following girlfriend's death
Petara Cordero and Smith were pulled over to the side of the highway Wednesday morning after Smith's vehicle had a tire malfunction and hit the median. After exiting the car without significant injuries, Cordero was struck by an oncoming vehicle.

Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger (elbow) out for the year
"This is shocking and heartbreaking for me, to miss this much of a season and feel like I am letting down so many people," Roethlisberger said in a statement. "I can only trust God's plan, but I am completely determined to battle through this challenge and come back stronger than ever next season."