CINCINNATI (WKRC) – The Cincinnati Bengals have reached last-chance territory in the 2025 season, and if they hope to win their final four games — a necessity to stay in playoff contention — they will need to find a way to defend tight ends better than they have all year.
The Bengals enter Sunday’s 1 p.m. game at Paycor Stadium against the Baltimore Ravens (on Local 12) with a 4-9 record. To keep their postseason hopes alive, they must win out, have the Ravens lose at least one of their final three games and have the Pittsburgh Steelers go 1-3 over their remaining four. A Baltimore win Sunday would eliminate Cincinnati from playoff contention.
One reason the Bengals are in this position is their season-long struggle covering tight ends. Cincinnati is on pace to break the NFL single-season records for receptions, yards and touchdowns allowed to the position. The defense has surrendered 98 catches for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns to opposing tight ends. The league records are 120 receptions, 1,303 yards and 17 touchdowns allowed.
They face another significant challenge this week in Baltimore’s trio of tight ends — Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar.
In the teams’ first meeting on Thanksgiving night in Baltimore, the group combined for 10 receptions and 154 yards. The Bengals still pulled out a 32-14 win by forcing five turnovers.
Isaiah Likely #80 of the Baltimore Ravens carries the ball after a reception against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second quarter in the game at M&T Bank Stadium on November 27, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)
Head coach Zac Taylor acknowledged the team’s issues defending tight ends but did not offer specifics on how the Bengals plan to address the problem.
“I mean, we can be better on some of the snaps, not biting so much on the action in front of them, and there’s other ways,” said Taylor. “I know (defensive coordinator) Al (Golden) is trying to help them schematically, as well. Each one’s a little bit of, it’s a unique look, because you might be in a different coverage. It might be a different look. Might be a different way that they got the tight end there, but certainly has been something that’s bit us, and we’ve got to work out crazy to rectify it.”
The Bengals’ issues were evident on the first defensive snap of Sunday’s 39-34 loss at Buffalo. Bills quarterback Josh Allen executed a strong play-action fake to running back James Cook, then found a wide-open Dawson Knox for a 32-yard gain. Buffalo’s tight ends finished with 11 receptions for 139 yards and two touchdowns.
Dawson Knox #88 of the Buffalo Bills is tackled by Geno Stone #22 of the Cincinnati Bengals during the second quarter at Highmark Stadium on December 07, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
A key factor in Cincinnati’s struggles has been inexperience at linebacker, where two rookies start. Safeties Geno Stone and Jordan Battle have also had uneven seasons, compounding the coverage problems.
“There’s a number of things that we’re working through,” Golden said. “Some of them we obviously don’t want to share, but there are certain things we’re working through in terms of matchups or rotations, just schematically, to alleviate some of the pressure in that. Obviously once you put it on film you own it, so we have to find a way to resolve it.”
If they don’t, the 2025 season could quickly slip away.
New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry (85) celebrates in front of Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt (57) after catching a pass for a first down during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Despite the must-win circumstances, Taylor said he doesn’t feel added pressure — and doesn’t believe his players do either.
“Maybe it sounds silly, but every week for us, I can tell you what we’re doing every minute of every single day leading up to Sunday to get ourselves right and that’s what we focus on,” said Taylor. “We want to win more than anything, so we don’t look at it in that light. It’s just, ‘What can we do to win this game?’ and that’s the same approach that we have every week.”
PREDICTION: Bengals 30, Ravens 23
The Skinny: The Bengals have scored 66 points in the two games since quarterback Joe Burrow returned from his turf toe injury, and of all the units playing in this game the Bengals offense is far and away the most trustworthy. Baltimore appears to be broken on both sides of the ball and five of their six wins have come over teams that are sub-.500 and with a combined 20-45 record.