After the 2018 season ended, the Cincinnati Bengals fired longtime coach Marvin Lewis after 16 seasons (which included zero playoff wins and the longest playoff win drought in the NFL). A 4-1 start to the 2018 campaign ended with nine losses in their last eleven games. Enough was enough and it was time for a change in Cincinnati.
On February 4, 2019, the team hired Zac Taylor as its new head coach. Taylor was picked off of the Sean McVay coaching tree and had coached in Super Bowl LIII the day before. He was the Rams’ wide receivers coach in 2017 and quarterbacks coach in 2018, helping coach Jared Goff to the NFC Championship and the Super Bowl.
Taylor’s first season didn’t go off without a hitch. The Bengals lost their first game in Seattle, 21-20, and proceeded to lose their first eleven games, the worst start in franchise history. The 2-14 finish helped them clinch the worst record in the league (tied with the worst in franchise history) and the first pick in the 2020 draft.
The Bengals used the first pick to draft quarterback Joe Burrow out of Louisiana State University. Burrow led the Tigers to the national championship in January, beating the Clemson Tigers with their superstar quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Burrow won the Heisman Trophy in December of 2019 after his storybook season as the Tigers would go on to finish 15-0.
Cincinnati didn’t fare much better in Joe Burrow’s rookie season, going 4-11-1. He went down in the middle of the season with both an ACL and MCL tear and that had fans worried. Would Burrow’s devastating knee injury hamper his career and make him a draft bust? Cincinnati’s history shows that they have plenty of those from failed drafts in the 90s.
Zac Taylor was given the option to come back for a third season after some thought he should be let go. It was the best thing for the team as he helped lead the Bengals to a 10-7 record and their first division title since 2015. Burrow recovered well from his injury to throw 34 TD passes and over 4600 yards. Leading the team that year were Pro Bowlers Joe Mixon and JaMarr Chase. Tee Higgins and Pitt and Clairton star Tyler Boyd also helped contribute to the offensive production.
Cincinnati would host the Las Vegas Raiders in the Wild Card matchup on January 15.
The Bengals put an end to 31 years of playoff frustration by knocking off the Las Vegas Raiders, 26-19. For the long suffering fans, they were able to celebrate after watching Marvin Lewis go 0-7 in the postseason even with the talent he had on both sides of the ball. Their next opponent would be the top seeded Tennessee Titans who were welcoming Derrick Henry back after being sidelined with a foot injury that ended his regular season midway through.
In what was a successful divisional round of playoff games, Cincinnati pulled off the big upset by defeating the top seeded Titans, 19-16. Despite an offensive line that gave up nine sacks, Joe Burrow was able to get it done in a gritty performance. The Bengals were able to contain King Henry in his return to the Titans. Their next opponent would be either the Buffalo Bills or Kansas City Chiefs in next Sunday’s AFC Championship game.
The Chiefs would be that next opponent as they knocked off the Bills in a game that was over before Buffalo got a chance to touch the ball in overtime. They thought they had the championship game in the bag with a 21-3 lead before halftime. The Bengals fought back and forced overtime with Evan MacPherson kicking the game winning field goals, continuing Cincinnati’s Cinderella season and sending them to Los Angeles. They would face the NFC Champion Los Angeles Rams in a home Super Bowl for them.
I talked about the outcome of the Super Bowl in yesterday’s blog so let’s talk about the what ifs for this team. I think there’s missed opportunities during the Marvin Lewis era where the team could have advanced far into the postseason. What if Carson Palmer didn’t get hurt in the 2005 Wild Card game against Pittsburgh? What if the team had a bye in the 2013 postseason? What if they completed the comeback against Pittsburgh in the 2015 Wild Card matchup?
I think Cincinnati plays Denver tough in the divisional round but comes up short, setting the stage for an amazing 2006 season. I think they get really far in 2013 and give Seattle a much better performance in Super Bowl XLVIII but come up short. AJ McCarron can’t get it done against Tom Brady in the 2015 divisional round, giving New England a home AFC title game matchup versus the Kansas City Chiefs who come in on a 12 game winning streak after beating Brock Osweiler and sending Peyton Manning into retirement.
Cincinnati will need to shore up their offensive line in 2022 if they want to come back to the Super Bowl. This was a fun team to watch during the regular season and I think Burrow is going to rank up there with Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes as the AFC’s elite. If Henry is back to 100%, look out for the Titans as well.
Look for my blog on the Greatest Show on Turf coming later this week.
Stylish 🍒 