Week 9 marked another illustration of the Bengals’ inability to produce a stop on defense. A late 15-point Cincinnati outburst aided by a successful onside kick recovery was followed by a Bears touchdown in the closing seconds of Sunday’s game. 
That contest was not dissimilar to Week 8’s high-scoring defeat against the Jets. Those losses have dropped Cincinnati to 3-6 on the year. Even if Joe Burrow manages to return relatively soon, playoff contention will be increasingly unlikely down the stretch. Nevertheless, the team’s bye week will not include changes to the defensive coaching staff.
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“No,” head coach Zac Taylor said (via Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer) when asked if defensive coordinator Al Golden‘s position is in jeopardy. “I believe in these guys. Absolutely. We’ll continue to work through it and find solutions.”
During each of Taylor’s first six years at the helm of the Bengals, Lou Anarumo operated as the team’s DC. The latter’s unit finished outside the top 20 in points allowed in 2023 and again last season, so it did not entirely come as a surprise when he was dismissed. Anarumo quickly lined up a new gig at the helm of the Colts’ defense after being fired. Indianapolis currently ranks seventh in points allowed.
Golden and the Bengals, meanwhile, have surrendered the most points and yards in the league on a per-game basis. The team is currently on pace to allow 567 points in 2025, which would be an all-time single-season record. Golden and the coaches are not entirely at fault, of course, and they will continue in their current roles when Cincinnati returns to action.
Many of the team’s recent draft investments on the defensive side of the ball have not developed as hoped. With much of the Bengals’ financial commitments coming on offense, their current issues have certainly not caught anyone off guard. Taylor did add that “nothing is off the table” in terms of personnel or scheme adjustments over the coming days. While moves along those lines – not to mention potential trades – will be worth watching for, Golden and Co. are safe for now.
Not a staff issue… their personnel suck! Spent so much $$ on a QB and two WR but nothing on defense. Lou was the scapegoat last year and look how he’s doing in Indy… personnel – NOT coaching.
If they are paying all that money to QB/WR/WR, they need to hit on the draft picks, I know it’s easier said then done but that’s the only way they can manage those 3 contracts and still be competitive. Free Agency is an afterthought to them.
They’ve spent tons of draft picks on defense. Maybe they should also spend money on not having the smallest scouting staff and smallest analytics staff in all of football.
100% agreed. Mike Brown gonna Mike Brown it up.
Giants and Bengals fans are that Spiderman meme where they’re pointing at each other.
Max Crosby a day 2 pick for Tee Higgins and 2 1’s? Bengals get a big time edge rusher, in his prime and Vegas gets a big time WR with some draft compensation as well.
the bungals have half the continued success equation solved .. thanks to burrow .. now PROTECT HIM ! ! steal a page from howie’s book .. build the offense and defensive lines .. and fill in around them with solid draft picks from top college defenses.. never let the core get too old and expensive
This is the worst defense in the history of the NFL.
The DC needs to be fired to make a statement. They could literally bring in the janitor to coach the defense and he would do better.
Well they should