Katie Stratman/USA TODAY Sports
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor and defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo acknowledged their roles in the team’s three-game losing streak and overall disappointing season. Following Sunday’s 44-38 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Taylor emphasized that the team’s 4-8 record starts with him.
“I’m not going to sit here and put this on the players. As the head coach, you sit there and you’re 4-8,” Taylor said Monday. “You’re a 4-8 head coach. And that starts with you. To get the most out of everybody, that’s my job.”
Anarumo shared a similar sentiment, taking responsibility for the defense’s struggles. “Obviously all of this starts and ends with me,” he said. “How we play is certainly my responsibility. I think the players have done a fantastic job of preparing, practicing with energy, giving us their best. I’m proud of the way we’ve gone about that.
“We need to do a better job — I need to do a better job of making sure it shows up on Sundays.”
Defensive Woes Continue
The Bengals’ defense has been a weak link, overshadowing strong offensive performances from Joe Burrow and company. Despite scoring 33 or more points in four games this season, Cincinnati lost all four—a first in NFL history.
Against Pittsburgh, the Bengals allowed 37 offensive points. Poor tackling was a major issue, with Anarumo citing at least 12 missed tackles. Taylor also pointed to a lack of attention to detail as a factor in the loss.
“We all know, as NFL coaches, what we signed up for,” Anarumo said when asked if this was the most pressure he has felt in his six-year tenure with the club. “And like I said, my concerns are our players and getting them in the best position to be successful on Sundays. That’s all I think about.”
Players Stand by Anarumo
Despite the struggles, Bengals players have defended their defensive coordinator. Safety Jordan Battle, who made his first start of the season against the Steelers, emphasized that the blame doesn’t fall solely on Anarumo.
“He’s always going to put the blame on himself,” Battle said. “In reality, it’s not Coach Lou. It’s all of us as one. We have to do our job when Coach Lou calls the play. And we can always save the down with any call that we have.”
Battle praised the team’s energy and effort in practice, noting that the group continues to fight hard despite having just a 3.7% chance of making the playoffs.
Looking Ahead
Taylor and his staff are no strangers to adversity. In 2019 and 2020, the Bengals won just six games combined before reaching the Super Bowl in 2021 and the AFC Championship Game in 2022. Taylor referenced those experiences as a source of hope and motivation for rebuilding the team’s trajectory.
“Oftentimes, you all have watched me sit up here for six years and fight through a lot of adversity,” Taylor said. “I see what’s on the other side of it. You see the people you want to do it with. Right now, this serves as an opportunity to evaluate the people you want to continue to do it with.”
The Bengals will have a chance to bounce back next week in a high-profile matchup against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Taylor said. “What more really can you ask for? I think our guys will respond well to that.”
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This report used information from ESPN.
