Cincinnati Bengals have 'zero wiggle room' after falling to 4-7 | Pro Football Talk | NFL on NBC

[@johnnybuk5136]

they don’t draft to improve the team, we draft to replace players that are due for a payday.

[@bengalswhodeyrs]

💯 this is absolute facts

[@reyndogg1]

@@johnnybuk5136 exactly!!

[@aroperdope]

There's many Bengals fans on KZbin that are dumb for not realizing this

[@mattdukeshire3837]

Bengals fans are spineless. Boycott. Stop rewarding your owners incompetence. Spread the word of his incompetence and expose the skeletons in his closet. If you’re not doing this, you too are wasting Joe Burrow.

[@danalopresto3139]

As a lifelong Steelers fan and close follower of the AFC North, the Bengals and Browns have been failed by ownership for years.

[@larryhammer5183]

But it's a nice bonus having that dysfunction in your division! As a Bills fan I love me some Woody Johnson and Stephen Ross

[@kimblandino]

​@larryhammer5183 you can throw in Kraft who is lost without Tommy Boy

[@philmalavarca9489]

@@kimblandinodon’t count out the Patriots in a few years. They’ve got their franchise quarterback in Drake Maye

[@justinruthen532]

As a Bengals fan. This season is more frustrating than all the decades that we were actually bad. We have such great players. Ownership and the coaching is just wasting this window. Everything you guys said is accurate :(

[@mustangcomputers1844]

Worst ownership in the NFL!

[@KVC-ft3hn]

Great ownership? Lol that's a good one

[@justinruthen532]

@KVC-ft3hn bad punctuation lol. Fixed.

[@puppethound]

Welcome to the winning side of football. Knowing you suck isn't as bad as having high hopes for the season only to watch it wilt away before the midway point.

[@goldsharpie]

Burrow better demand a trade. Deserves so much better. Wish he would have pulled an ELI!

[@reyndogg1]

I’ve said it time and time again the Bengals front office runs the team like a small business. The best example of that would be a Diner. They take little to no risks, They’re set in their ways, and only change when they have to not because it’s the right thing to do.

[@johnchedsey1306]

I'm sure they care about the profit margins each year and that's about it.

[@adamsabolcik2377]

Worst possible thing that could have happened to the Bengals was making it to the Super Bowl. Stuck with bad coach for too long and thought they were closer than they actually were

[@dbmagee21]

Bill billichek should go to the Bengals

[@metsrus]

@@dbmagee21 he'd love to get his hands on this qb/wr duo, it'll be tom brady and randy moss all over again.

[@andrewholland21]

And then are bad at it

[@mikebrannon6197]

​@@metsrusHe doesn't even understand some of the lingo on offense. You realize he is defensive minded, right?

[@metsrus]

@@mikebrannon6197 yeah what the bengals need. he could leave and entrust the offense mostly to Burrow like he did with Brady. Besides his 3 decades of superbowl experience is better than anything Zac Taylor can offer.

[@bryanturner4686]

DJ Reader not being retained is the biggest reason that defense sucks this year as well as not getting a good VET CB last year. Tobin has done a TERRIBLE job of putting this defense together. The Bengals front office have let the players down but also the fans. This should have been the year for the ring. Who Dey!

[@nrc1911]

DJ Reader is the single biggest mistake. The second is believing that Lou Anarumo was the sole genius in the room(Rober Livingston is sorely missed)

[@diamondrg3556]

I think letting Jessie Bates go was worse primarily because Reader spent a lot of time injured last year.

[@513hook513]

​@@diamondrg3556Jessie wanted to much money and as you saw he was the highest paid safety ever with the Falcons. Bengals couldn't afford him

[@cc-92]

@@513hook513They could afford him, they just chose not to pay him because they’re incompetent.

[@thedman103]

Dragging their feet on the Chase contract is costing them millions as he puts up HOF numbers this year.

[@Mvproszn]

They already had zero wiggle room weeks ago

[@zachrhoads2396]

exactly, i'm done with that narrative. It's over for them this year

[@RaydinAE11]

Whitworth, Zeitler, Bates, Reader, overvalues the draft instead of building around talent they already developed. Bates was durable and still young. Zeitler is still playing and still one of the top gaurds in the NFL.

[@fredericklockard3854]

I’d be surprised if Joe, chase, and Higgins don’t get out of town as soon as possible. The front office continues to fail at every level. Playing hard ball with contracts like it’s the 90s again.

[@chalesgolding5314]

I don’t know Mike…it sure looked to me like Higgins gave everything he had last night.

[@kimblandino]

He's auditioning for The Steelers next year.

[@clintonott4550]

Duke Tobin letting everyone go has destroyed us

[@johnb-v7y]

Joe Burrow is great. He's the perfect example (and Josh Allen too) of how stupid it is for critics to claim about a QB that "he hasn't won a Super Bowl." As if any QB plays defense or special teams -- if his team is weak in those other areas, his great play goes to waste.

[@floridators]

They're built backwards as well. Never really paid attention to the trenches aside getting Hendrickson.

[@johnjames502]

And Hendrickson will be gone after this year. He wants a contract and they won't give it to him.

[@17thN.O]

​@@johnjames502I know. He was a beast for my Saints and we let him get away.

[@joellahrman4557]

@@johnjames502 I believe they have him in 2025 as well.

[@marlonevans6449]

I wish burrow and chase could get out of cincy and land together somewhere

[@larrystevenson5473]

in New Orleans?? lol. that be awesome. im a die hard bengals fan and pains me to see them leave eventually. bengals ownership is trash

[@rzurectd100]

He is so on point!

[@tdog1983-v6c]

Carson palmer went to Arizona and became the second bright spot in a franchise with a lot of dark spots

[@PhilAndersonOutside]

Same with Kurt Warner, after the Giants (and others) had written him off!

[@zeusonolympus123]

I don't understand why everyone keeps saying the Bengals are cheap on salary. They have the highest salary for active roster in 2024 in the entire NFL. Im not talking about who and how they spent it. Just that they spent more than every other team. Its not spending that is the problem. Its where it went and how they drafted and who they let go.

[@tomw9480]

Thanks for summation. You have NO IDEA how it is living in Bengals ‘Nati. It’s Marvin Lewis 2.0.

[@Wrasseman10]

at 4-10 bengals still have a chance - mike florio

[@jps101574]

4-7

[@be2112]

I know there’s a lot of differences between the Bengals and Jets, but the media takes are pretty similar. No matter how many times the Jets lose, the media still thinks they have a chance to win out and make the playoffs 😂

[@noddy2slurps742]

I like how dudes a Vikings fan wearing a Steelers jersey 😂

[@QUARTERBACKYYYY]

Flores is a 🤡

[@JGRITTYify]

The Bengals have the 3rd highest payroll in the NFL

[@mazhar1980]

They did the same with Carson Palmer and Andy Dalton, neither are on Burrow’s level but the Bengals are the Bengals. Joe Burrow is gonna wake up at 35 near the end of his career with that one trip to the Super Bowl and loss as the peak of his career with that franchise.

[@mikebrannon6197]

He will likely get back to at least 1 SB. He's young and it appears that he's still ascending. If he gets to the post season, he gives his team a shot to win 1 game on any given day if you ask me. Not a Bengals fan by nature, but I'm definitely rooting for them to be honest. He's a pocket QB for the most part, so with a good O line, I can see him playing until 40.

[@claytonboggess9086]

We the Bengals fans agree with you. But you need to put more on predictable play calling and bad defense coaching. Bad drafting overall

[@ivenhugenschmidt5086]

Hopfully they can land ben johnson as hc this offseason

[@MrZola1234]

It’s mostly the cheap owner thing, but Burrow gets to big of a pass. He looked bad for the first 4 weeks too. He didn’t come into camp ready to play his A game. Also, has always had a tendency to start slow in games too. He can’t wait until the team is down big to turn it on.

[@anti-classist]

Names all these offensive players.But none of the defensive players were just a real problem

[@eddiewang8623]

One scary thought, Burrow and the team already peaked two years ago.

[@ronwright3324]

Burrow stats as of today: 3,028 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, QBR 106.8, 70 percent completion rate. This is his best year ever as far as individual play

[@ADUSN]

Their window is closed. Especially after paying Joe

[@materwelon932]

Burrow is peaking right now. The Bengals are fr failing him

[@ronwright3324]

@ agreed

[@halloweentimemachine]

None of these losses are on Burrow peaking two years ago. He’s playing great. And Florio is right: ownership is sabotaging the team by being cheap.

[@stevecarey4740]

Tee gunna look really good in Bills blue next year

[@kennethpayton6672]

I'm a long time Bengals fan your guys are spot !!!!!

[@sjdjfieizkck]

Suggesting Lamar is better than Burrow is so wild. Burrow is 3x a Lamar.

[@AaronMich90]

No one checks these analysts at all clutch team ? They are 4 games over .500 for Joe burrow career how is that clutch

[@grantlogan9207]

for the record, they do play well in clutch time. the issue you bring, which is the actual problem, is why do they always have to perform in the clutch just to win games. They are always playing catch up. They committed franchise suicide. they are paying too much for players and won't ever go into the penalty for super bowls. Mike Brown is a joke. it's always been this way. I'm 34 years old, and had I been Marvin Lewis all those years, me, I would have at least one super bowl. at least one.

[@aaronjackson9385]

Joe is not clutch. He struggles to put gamea away, on the regular. He had the ball twice, in a tie game, in the 4th qtr 2022 AFC title game and couldnt score a point.

[@Weezy10580]

@@aaronjackson9385because of the refs

[@aaronjackson9385]

@@Weezy10580 refs were suspect, but they didnt make him throw that horrible 4th qtr int.

[@Weezy10580]

@@aaronjackson9385 27 touchdowns and 4 picks this year. Best QB in the league

[@Collin_Nicholas]

The O Line is still an issue. Also getting rid of the some of the defensive guys we had in the Super Bowl was a problem. Plus having the inconsistency of the offensive play calling.

[@tigerhoods7927]

lol that superbowl loss made ppl think the bengals would get back

[@natet5959]

These guys are spot on. The Bengals management is so inept that they can't even win with one of the best quarterback-receiver combos in the league.

[@rafsimmz]

The only way i see this working out is Joe Burrow quite literally restructuring his contract to push his cap hit further down the line, and getting Tee and Chase signed for a few more years .

[@JLM_79]

Chargers get no respect. It's never about how they won, but how the other team lost.

[@Harriscalef]

Zac Taylor needs to advocate for these things. He’s an owners coach

[@terrelljohnson4790]

I’m surprised Joey bosa hasn’t been hurt in 2 games that has to be a record for him since his rookie year that guy soft and made out of glass

[@thatstheway2429]

I love having Burrow and Chase on most of my fantasy teams but the Bengals keep losing 😂 it’s the most perfect win win

[@ishmoose1]

Steelers fan I take it 😂

[@bsimp07]

Trading Burrow for picks would have been terrible because the bengals are terrible at evaluating talent. They got lucky with Burrow, then got lucky again because Burrow's knee got shredded to get Chase. They will never change until they expand their scouting department and fire Duke Tobin.

[@cjs83172]

The season's already over for the Bengals, as one of their non-division rivals, the Chargers, ended it last night. Their big problem for this year is not necessarily their record, which is 4-7, but rather, who they've lost to, because two of the three teams holding Wild Card spots in the AFC, the Chargers and Ravens, hold a combined 3-0 record vs. the Bengals (and are four and three games ahead of them in the loss column, respectively), and the Bengals still have two games with the Steelers and one with the Broncos, and odds are, they lose at least two of those games. But even if they finished 5-1, that puts them at 9-8, and their only hope to get in is to beat out the Broncos and hope the Colts, now at 5-6, don't leapfrog the Broncos.

[@steeby]

Everyone acting like burrow isn't part of the problem is crazy... Last I checked he was the one who didn't throw touchdowns in the first half.... And in the 2nd half chargers tried giving them the game multiple times but burrows offense did nothing to take the game.... .

[@AnthonyMancuso-pt4ru]

DITTO..bengals fan here 50+ yrs

[@evanrichter3893]

I HATE this narrative that burrow is the one who can beat the chiefs. Allen played way way way better in the 13 second game the week before than burrow played the game after. People forget Allen had one of the best playoff performances of all time and led a clutch two minute drill and threw a td to put them up with 13 second left. Oh but burrow doesn’t blink… where did Allen blink ?

[@craigburgess7105]

Will Burrow become today's version of Marino ? Get to 1 SB, not win it and then never manage to get there again despite being a peak QB player. Possibly

[@craigburgess7105]

He is a brilliant QB

[@johnchedsey1306]

Perhaps Burrow won't be loyal to the Bengals and Mike Brown. He honestly shouldn't be if the Bengals are going to continue being mediocre in their approach and philosophy.

[@kennethstanley4359]

As a longtime Bengals fan we need to stop calling Evan McPherson money mack until he gives us our money's worth😅

[@sjdjfieizkck]

I've been calling him "pocket-change Mac" for a couple weeks now.

[@chickengenius4202]

Maybe Mac

[@danname1533]

Bengals are a dysfunctional franchise and do dysfunctional things

[@legman1476]

I've said this in the comment section on this channel and others; never underestimate the ability of Mike Brown to "Mike Brown" things up. He's old. He's old school and it doesn't fly in today's NFL. He still believes a contract is a contract. They haven't been binding agreements in over a decade. Look back at how he handled the Carson Palmer trade request. "He's under contract." Then, local media sings his praises saying he "took one for the team" and made a deal with the Raiders. It's his effin' team!!! This season he said Chase is in year 4 of his rookie contract. Bengals don't talk extensions, except with QBs, until the last year of said contract. They will lose Hendrickson, NFL sack leader, after this season. They will lose Higgins and get nothing in return. The fans can blame Zac Taylor all they want. Until Mike Brown is gone, sells the team or dies, he will be an anchor around this ridiculous dinghy that's taking on water.

[@discopotato188]

Thanks, for speaking the truth. Anybody who thinks this ownership is doing everything they can to win a trophy is blind. Katie Blackburn is making daddy proud. Profit>Championships=MikeBrown

[@larryhammer5183]

That look on Chase's face and his demeanor says it all! Shits gotta change or he's outta there with Joe Cool!

[@bfunderb5899]

If not mistaken, they would need to beat the Steelers twice to "win out" and have a remote chance at a wildcard. Even as a fan, I just don't see that happening.

[@Docmain3]

4:14: Derrick Henry: am I a joke to you? MVP is strictly a QB award. 😢

[@albecky123]

I am a Joe Burrow fan, NOT a Bengals fan. I have followed this young man since his first year at LSU. I would LOVE to see him and Ja'Marr on a team where the beauty of their skill and play can shine through. Joe Burrow has a warrior's heart and I am just sick for him. He has signed a long-term contract with this bozo of a team...all his prime years will be spent here. Ja"Marr is more l level-headed in his loyalty. As much I'd hate to see him and Joe split up, I truly HOPE Ja'Marr knows he just dodged a bullet by not get that contract in the offseason and that he will take advantage of that and NEVER sign an extension with the Bengals. There is still hope for him to be what he actually IS and have it actually mean something to a team during games.

[@ScrapperBob-cz8yn]

Keeping Tee isn't being cheap. They trying to squeeze a year out of him playing with Jamar. Those two together even if for just one year. That's trying to win now.

[@stevenmitchell785]

I was a bengals fan. He should definitely pull a Carson Palmer

[@JFTB-i8y]

joe mixon vs chase brown is not a problem. Chase brown or mixon are very similar. bengals oline sucks even with mixon, but chase brown is cheaper.

[@jharp08]

So basically what Carson Palmer said back in 2011

[@iwannatalktosampson5852]

Probably have to win out at this point

[@chickengenius4202]

This year ain’t happening

[@giovannirussildi2603]

I’m a die hard Bengals fan… love to hear this! This front office is the worst in all American sports! They are as cheap as they can be! Hate to see Burrow and Chase play like no one else in this league an see that is still not enough!

[@FilonisHat]

Mike Brown is a blight and parasite upon the people of Cincinnati. I feel for Burrow and Chase.

[@andrewhiedelburg4576]

Joe Burrow is going to end up retiring early! Mark it down

[@24KLuxury]

He loves the game too much. Before he flat out quits he’ll demand new coaching and trades and if they don’t he’ll go to a new team.

[@buddybarlow9604]

2 trades that should've been done.. Bengals should've traded Higgins and Dallas should've traded Micah

[@andrewb8017]

Burrow will likely have to force his way out in order to win big. That is what every really good player for them has done in the past.

[@david-ug4qc]

The owner should be forced to sell because it is criminal how they are waisting Joe and chase and tee career

[@chipheideman3964]

THEYRE FINISHED

[@14skp]

The Bengals are owned by Mike Brown who was gifted the team by his brother Paul Brown who founded the Bengals. The team is run like a family business, not a professional business with many scouts and executive positions. Duke Tobin has been the de facto GM (not officially named) since....1999. 25 years!! The OL coach has been around 5-9 years. Burrow is getting hit too many times (14 hits vs Chargers). Mike Brown doesn't really want to win and just cares about being profitable, won't invest in positions for a "Professional Operation" like other teams do. They've done better in the last 2-3 years by signing some high paid OL'men, but were those decisions really smart?? A good personnel or scouting department could make sure it was smart. No real scouting dept, no Dir of Football Operations, just Mike Brown and family members trying to get it done on their own. This is what you get and is why Carson Palmer left. He asked for upgrades for years, but didn't happen, so he left.

[@kramalerav]

Mike Brown is the son of Paul Brown (1908-1991), not his brother.

[@tdham97]

Bet they miss Jesse bates but that’s the problem when the QB wants all the money

[@gvanys]

Wiggle room? this team is done for the season 😂😂

[@BrazyBlazer]

If we make the playoffs you don’t want to play us 🐱

[@diamondrg3556]

If they win out except one loss to the Steelers, they can still get the seven seed, if the Broncos falter. I hope they don't because I want our GM gone, he murdered a beautiful defense.

[@Prime8373-b7t]

@@BrazyBlazereveryone definitely want to play the defense

[@andylam4350]

Bengals is doing what Packers did to A rod during his prime. Pay the qb and wr all the $ and cheap out on everyone else. Bengals are wasting burrow prime.

[@kaitlinkennedy2600]

Wiggle room ?? They’re done this year , they just are .

[@XtremeDirtRacing]

Burrow should leave for his own sake. Everyone warned him that the Bengals ownership doesn’t want to win.

[@kramalerav]

He can’t leave, he’s under contract. And he’s making 55M a year.

[@XtremeDirtRacing]

@ Carson Palmer left after 7 years of it.

[@kramalerav]

@@XtremeDirtRacing Cincy let Palmer go because he wasn’t worth haggling over. He was diminished after that injury in the playoffs against the Steelers.

[@dbmagee21]

Burrow is NOT the only qb to beat mahomes in the playoffs. Tom brady 2019 afc championship game.

[@diamondrg3556]

probably meant only active qb

[@GarySBrown]

Bengals are putting their money in the wrong places. McPhearson, Logan Wilson, for example.

[@dalicdan]

The Bengals are what the Chargers were last year.

[@Tommy9834]

Didn't we say this last week?

[@mat.356]

Feel bad for Burrow… such a good QB surrounded by sub par coaches and players!

[@ADUSN]

He took a market deal, this is what happens.

[@THEBENGALSBOOGY]

Bengals ownership is running a get rich scheme Until fans say enough stfu. Just keep spending your money so the browns can get higher on the forbes list

[@ricblic901]

So, you're saying A QB on a 4-7 team is the league MVP, why? Right now, I'd say Goff is the MVP or Allen or even Mahomes.

[@mykofreder1682]

They have to at least tie the Colts and Broncos, not great teams, to be the last wildcard. Losing to the Steelers next week is OK because the Broncos probably are not going undefeated to the game with the Bengals. The defensive sides in Chiefs/Bengals are not close to when the Bengals won in the playoffs, the Bengals have one of the worst defenses in football, the Chiefs will hit 30+ points in a playoff game and the Bengals are not.

[@danktunes3618]

Bengals on a bye next wk

[@julzz2x51]

Why would you think Higgins would want to play on a tag do better bengals

[@harryclint6170]

It’s all about mediocrity. That’s the entire mentality of Cincinnati

[@lennybeason1110]

The Bengals had their chance and it’s over especially if Chase leaves or if they pay him what he’s worth!

[@briananderson9650]

Bengals are totally against trading players 😮😮

[@mdemartino71]

I WOULD LET CHASE WALK. WE NEED TO INVEST CAP SPACE ON DEFFENSE, SCORING CLOSE TO 30 ALL THESE GAMES AND STILL LOSING

[@frankazzuri8984]

Chase brown has been better than Joe Mixon this year lol

[@24KLuxury]

Because they have new linemen…Mixon was never the problem and he’s proved it in Houston.

[@matt_sandmann]

They went out and paid jenkins. They have one of the most expensive o lines, paid both linebackers. Wtf are they supposed to do. The free agents havent paid off and the draft injuries are killing them. Dont talk if you dont truly know. The bengals will be fine we all knew this was gonna be a rough couple years but were hopeful that Joe and Jamar could carry them and they just cant. Youll be eating these words in a year or 2

[@legitdragon6202]

Yeah the team of a couple years ago is when Burrow was on rookie deal, now they're gonna have to pay Chase, team is collapsing around them now they're having to pay people.

[@woodstocknation1961]

Bengals let the wrong players go in free agency

[@samcalven12]

Burrow this Burrow that he only beat him once calm down, this team is riding high on something that happened 3 seasons ago

[@athompson1992]

Fire ZAC FAILURE!! He is a below average coach riding the coattails of his QB and WR1, if his sorry a$$ wants to call plays then be O.C. Duke Tobin is the worst GM in the League and should also be fired. This CHEAP!!! franchise has done nothing to help the Defensive side of the ball in the last 3 seasons. I challenge someone to name a star defensive player who isn't named Trey and wears #91. The secondary is soft and looks lost most games, the D-line ( other then BJ Hill ) is young and inexperienced, Hubbard is struggling, and Trey is playing out of his mind. Who is in LB group other then Wilson & Pratt...No one else knows either. This terrible front office has watched #9 get beat up for 5 seasons now, and other then Brown jr. who seems to get hurt a lot, have done nothing to protect Joe?? Amarius Mims has shown his potential but needs more coaching and experience. I believe if this continues Joe Burrow will end up the next Andrew Luck. The Browns/Blackburns need to cut father time and his outdated, greedy, penny pinching way out of the operations. BUSINESS 101 You have to spend money to make money!!

[@TerrellHowell-k3t]

He really wearing Steelers jersey he be flip flopping

[@masx4468]

Joe Burrow should demand a trade.

[@kramalerav]

With what leverage? He’s making 55M a year.

[@TonyT-m1k]

If lucky the Bengals will finish 6-11.

[@puppethound]

The Bengals are vying for last place in their division, trying their hardest to knock off the Browns as cellar dwellers. Wiggle room, lmao, they don't have a chance vs. the Ravens or Steelers

[@bryanlegarretta3404]

Bengals window closed. Reality was that Super Bowl year they had burrow chase Higgins Logan Wilson Jesse bates etc all on rookie contracts. That’s over now

[@BrazyBlazer]

Really bad take you smell the hate

[@Connor-tr1dv]

@@BrazyBlazernah he’s right and you’re blind. nothings gonna change.

[@crankmastermason7325]

Ownership sucks

[@deanofrock6236]

I will do something different as Mika calls it and no longer watch Morning Joe.

[@antonioruberto7077]

The Bengals will always Bungal!

[@davecolvin310]

Cant afford to get off to a slow start in afc north