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The Cincinnati Bengals didn’t have the worst start to the season, but since going 1-2-1, the team has lost six of seven and with those losses comes that of their starting quarterback Joe Burrow who tore his ACL against Washington Football Team.
Following Burrow’s injury, Brandon Allen was named the started. Despite having a kick off return touchdown, the Bengals lost to the Giants this past weekend. Allen had the only passing touchdown in the game but couldn’t get much else going.
The Bengals have little option outside of Allen and second-year quarterback Ryan Finley who didn’t play well following Burrow’s exodus against the Football Team. They likely won’t have Joe Mixon back either.
That said, following a rough Week 12 and entering an almost impossible situation in Week 13, here’s how the national media is talking about the Cincinnati Bengals in updated power rankings.
For the second straight year, December is all about losing for the Bengals. Cincinnati and Dallas are in the mix for the No. 3 draft pick. While the Bengals are indeed trying to win, a loss will likely clinch the rights to select the best player in the 2021 draft not named Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields. That means potentially taking Oregon’s Penei Sewell, a dominant tackle who could fortify the edge and protect Joe Burrow for years to come. While another loss might be a lot for Zac Taylor and the Bengals to stomach, nobody said rebuilding was going to be fun. — Ben Baby
Zac Taylor is 4-22-1. Does he get a pass because Joe Burrow got hurt this season and the Bengals are in a rebuild? It’s rare to see a coach with that record get much time. Only five coaches in NFL history have coached more than 27 games and had a worse winning percentage than Taylor.
Joe Burrow’s injury is just such a bummer, and it’s also virtually sapped my desire to watch Bengals games.
For Cincinnati fans desperately seeking silver linings as this season winds down, watch emergent third-year FS Jessie Bates III blossom.
The Bengals are just trying to hang on and be competitive without Joe Burrow. The good news is they can probably add a franchise pass protector in the draft now.
You have to feel bad for the Bengals, who at least had Joe Burrow to celebrate. With Ryan Finley in there now, there’s just no reason to watch Cincinnati.