Cincinnati faces a challenging path to reach the playoffs in 2024.
The Cincinnati Bengals are struggling in the first half of the 2024 NFL season. They kicked off the season with a disheartening loss to the New England Patriots, which seems to have set a negative tone for the year. The Bengals have consistently faced challenges and, despite competing fiercely against tough opponents like the Chiefs, they have only managed to secure three wins.
As a result, they desperately need every victory to salvage their season. Unfortunately, Week 8 brought more disappointment, as they suffered a 37-17 loss at home, which felt particularly demoralizing.
Does this mean the Bengals’ season is over? Or can they find a way to rebound and reach the playoffs?
In the following sections, we’ll examine three reasons why the Bengals are officially in trouble after their lopsided defeat to the Eagles in Week 8.
The Bengals probably need to win the AFC North to make the postseason
To begin, it’s important to recognize that the Bengals face a significant challenge if they hope to reach the playoffs.
The AFC is currently very competitive, and securing a wild card spot will be tough, as only three wild card teams can qualify, and the Bengals have more than that standing in their way.
As it stands, if the season concluded today, the Bengals would be on the outside looking in, trailing the Broncos, Chargers, Ravens, and Colts in the wild card standings and sitting more than one team away from a playoff spot.
Consequently, their most straightforward route to the postseason would be to win the division. However, this seems unlikely for Cincinnati, as they are three games behind in the AFC North.
The Bengals’ last four divisional games—two against the Steelers and one each against the Browns and Ravens—are proving crucial for their chances of salvaging the season.
The Bengals’ defense cannot stop anybody, which puts more pressure on their offense
The most pressing issue the Bengals face in 2024 is their poor defensive performance. It’s surprising, given that their defensive coordinator, Lou Anarumo, is considered one of the top defensive strategists in the NFL and has been effective at crafting unique defenses in recent seasons.
The defensive lineup isn’t lacking talent, either. Key players like Sam Hubbard, Trey Hendrickson, and Logan Wilson remain, and there’s depth at almost every position. However, the defense isn’t performing as well collectively as the individual players suggest they should.
Through eight weeks, Cincinnati has allowed 144 points, ranking as the third worst in the NFL, behind only Carolina and Jacksonville. They allow touchdowns on 27.4% of drives, placing them 28th in the league, according to Pro Football Focus.
Another concerning statistic is that the Bengals’ defense allows a positive expected points added (EPA) on 47.9% of snaps, which ranks 31st in the NFL, with only the Arizona Cardinals faring worse.
The ramifications of a weak defense extend beyond obvious concerns; it places additional pressure on Cincinnati’s offense. Any mistake on offense, even a minor one like a three-and-out, could easily lead to seven points for the opposing team. This leaves little room for error, making it difficult to secure victories consistently.
Joe Burrow is having an outstanding season in 2024, but his exceptional play isn’t enough to carry the Bengals to victory alone. Like every NFL quarterback, he needs support from his teammates.
Burrow’s performance through eight weeks is impressive, with nearly 2,000 passing yards (1,993), 15 touchdowns, and just three interceptions, along with a completion percentage of 70.3%. This results in a solid passer rating of 106.5 for the season.
Unfortunately, the rest of the Bengals’ offense has not been as reliable. Ja’Marr Chase has been the next most productive player, with his only subpar outing (four receptions for 35 yards) occurring in Week 2 against the Chiefs. However, Chase’s success relies heavily on the offensive line providing Burrow with enough time to deliver the ball.
The running game has been decent, featuring a combination of Zack Moss and Chase Brown, but the tight ends have been a significant disappointment so far.
If Burrow can receive consistent help from his skill-position players, the Bengals might salvage their season. Without that support, they’re likely to miss the playoffs.
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