Ben Child
DENVER — Every part appeared out of kinds for the Cincinnati Bengals in one more blowout loss.
The offense by no means acquired rolling. Penalties abounded. And the protection gave up a number of massive performs in a 28-3 defeat to the Denver Broncos on Monday night time.
Based on Bengals star extensive receiver Ja'Marr Chase, there additionally gave the impression to be some key intangibles that have been missing as nicely.
“Urgency is there, man, it is simply you gotta need it,” Chase mentioned after the sport. “On the finish of the day, we gotta need it. At present, it did not appear like we wished it.”
When requested to expound on that, Chase mentioned “simply giving up” earlier than diving into a few of the particulars of a powerful defeat.
Cincinnati had 11 penalties for 65 yards, numbers that excluded a couple of that have been declined by Denver. Chase cited the quite a few stalled drives that ended shortly. After a subject objective on the sport's opening drive that gave the Bengals a 3-0 lead, Cincinnati punted on its ultimate eight possessions. All of them ended on its half of the Kentucky Bluegrass at Empower Discipline at Mile Excessive Stadium.
The Bengals completed with 159 offensive yards. Based on ESPN Analysis, it is the primary time for the reason that 2009 Oakland Raiders {that a} staff has had 200 or fewer offensive yards in three of its first 4 video games.
Probably the most telling scene occurred within the second half after a stalled Bengals possession. Chase and Bengals coach Zac Taylor had an prolonged interplay on the sting of the sideline earlier than Chase lastly made his technique to his seat on the bench.
“We have been simply speaking concerning the possession,” Chase mentioned. “We have been simply speaking about what performs we will run and the way can we assault sure coverages and get our playmakers the ball.”
The All-Professional receiver mentioned he felt his involvement within the sport felt considerably regular. He was focused eight occasions. However he completed with 5 catches for less than 23 yards. Based on ESPN Analysis, solely a kind of targets was greater than 10 yards downfield. When requested for his characterization of the sideline change, Taylor mentioned it stemmed from a need for Chase to do something in his energy to assist the Bengals win.
“It comes throughout as emotional, however that is only a captain that works his tail off,” Taylor mentioned. “All he desires to do is win the sport. All he desires to do is have an effect on the sport. Usually occasions, he looks like, ‘If I've the ball in my hand, I can do this.' And I do not disagree with him.”
Bengals quarterback Jake Browning, who was 14-of-25 passing for 125 yards, mentioned any lack of need that Chase felt wasn't due to a scarcity of effort.
“I do not query anyone's effort within the locker room,” mentioned Browning, who was making his second begin rather than Joe Burrow, who's on injured reserve due to a toe harm. “I do not assume that is how all the pieces goes for the Bengals.”
However Browning did concede that after one other tough offensive displaying, every participant should consider how they're accountable. One week after the Bengals suffered a 48-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, probably the most lopsided loss in franchise historical past, Cincinnati failed to attain a landing. The minus-63 level differential over the 2 video games additionally marks the worst in a two-game stretch for the reason that Bengals have been based in 1968, per ESPN Analysis.
Taylor mentioned not scoring sufficient has the been probably the most irritating a part of the back-to-back losses. For Chase, that feeling stems from being on the unsuitable aspect of one other blowout.
“I am all the time annoyed if I am shedding,” Chase mentioned. “However it's a part of the sport, man. Typically the feelings take over. Typically it appears like what it is not presupposed to. It occurs.”
