The Cincinnati Bengals failed to make the NFL playoffs for the third straight season following a 24-0 loss to the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium. After a promising 2-0 start, they lost Joe Burrow in the middle of that second win, entering a four-game losing skid that ended against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 7.
The Bengals only won one more game after that duel, putting themselves in a complicated position to advance to the postseason.
ESPN analyst Mina Kimes discussed the Bengals’ season and sent a strong message to the front office for failing to assemble a competitive team around Burrow.
“The Philadelphia Eagles have the cheapest defense in football, and they are great. They draft well, they make smart signs and trades and they’re well coached. It’s not Joe Burrow’s job to be the GM of the Cincinnati Bengals,” Kimes said.
She added that the Bengals should keep Burrow, despite constant rumors about a potential exit, but noted that the quarterback should expect improvements on the roster, especially on defense. Kimes didn’t mince words when talking about the lack of ambition the team’s brass has shown.
“We don’t talk about this front office and criticize them the way we should,” Kimes added. “We should be holding their feet to the fire. If this was a bigger market team, people would be calling for wide-scale change in the front office.”
Burrow’s return to the field reignited the Bengals’ hopes, but after just a win, they entered a two-game losing skid, which killed their chances. They will face the Miami Dolphins in Week 16, before taking on the Arizona Cardinals in Week 17 and closing out the season against the Cleveland Browns.
They focused on building the offense around Burrow, and the defense didn’t have much improvement. Their first-round pick in the 2025 draft caused trouble by not signing his rookie deal until late July, and the Trey Hendrickson situation got resolved right before the start of the season.
After posting two 9-8 records in 2023 and 2024, the Bengals can aspire to win just seven games this season.
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