The Cincinnati Bengals are a rudderless ship without Joe Burrow, the 37-24 loss to the Detroit Lions the third ugly loss in a row. 

Granted, that ugly loss was pretty compared to the 48-10 and 28-3 results of the prior two weeks. But at 2-3, some garbage-time stats in what was on track to be the worst three-game pace in franchise history shouldn’t skewer the outlook: These Bengals are bad. 

Here are some overreactions coming out of the game. 

Zac Taylor’s hot seat should be scorching

A team cannot respond like this after a quarterback injury. Zac Taylor has consistently faced allegations that Joe Burrow and his elite cast of weapons propped him up and he’s not doing much to disprove that. The “unwavering” support of Jake Browning is the latest proof.  Even if Taylor makes a quarterback change, we might be getting closer to needing to see how the locker room responds to Darrin Simmons or Al Golden as interim head coach. 

The QB answer isn’t on the roster 

Browning needs to hold a clipboard, but the starter isn’t on the roster. It’s not Brett Rypien, Mike White or Sean Clifford. The Bengals need to go out and find a Russell Wilson-like player via trade. Yes, the gameplans will need to be vanilla for the first few weeks, but vanilla can be fine with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, provided they have someone who can actually get them the ball. 

RELATED: Zac Taylor admits Bengals could weigh QB decision with Jake Browning

The defense remains a mess

Good news: The defense has improved under Golden. Bad news: We’re comparing it ot the historically bad units of the last few years. The unit has some serious bright spots like rookies Shemar Stewart and Demetrius Knight. But the rest of the line is a mess, non-Dax Hill cornerbacks won’t be around much longer, and the linebacker and safety rooms might need to be blown up. Plus, Golden keeps getting weird with dropping pass-rushers into coverage. If Taylor goes after the season, it’s hard to think Golden will stick. 

Don’t blame Bengals fans

There was much Lions blue at Paycor Stadium in the stands on Sunday. And it’s impossible to blame fans. Burrow being out is one thing. The Bengals signalling they’re waving the white flag on the entire season is another. The organization is doing a disservice to the fans and locker room by not pushing for improvement and change. Look at the AFC right now: The Colts and Bills are 4-1 at the top. The Bengals are still second in the AFC North at 2-3, above 1-4 Baltimore. It’s there for the taking, yet the franchise doesn’t seem like it wants it. 

RELATED: Bengals not calling about QB trades despite Jake Browning’s struggles