Cincinnati Bengals players knew what was coming after the Oct. 4 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“I know we’re 2-2,” tight end Mike Gesicki said. “Everybody’s gonna act like the world’s falling.”
But before media members streamed into Paycor Stadium’s home locker room following a failed comeback attempt in a 22-17 loss, head coach Zac Taylor tried to prevent the team from being swayed by sentiments like those Gesicki said he anticipated.
Prior to his post-game news conference in a room situated just off the Bengals locker room, Taylor addressed his players. Dozens of media members heard what Taylor said in a loud address to his players. Through the walls, the exact words couldn't be understood precisely, but the volume his voice conveyed his intent.
"No one wants to hear it,” Taylor said to reporters. “I am proud of the team for the way they fought. I am allowed to see the silver lining."
Taylor’s highly-anticipated Bengals team opened 2026 with 2-0 record but have dropped two straight winnable games.
That its Oct. 4 and Sept. 27 losses to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers, respectively, were lost by the thinnest margins doesn’t benefit the team relative to its goals − unless you subscribe to what Taylor told his players afterward.
He refused to deny his team credit for nearly coming all the way back from a 22-10 deficit with less than seven minutes remaining.
The Bengals roster was infused with new talent this past offseason, and it emerged from training camp with the appearance of enhanced depth, too. The schedule was supposedly soft. The AFC North was supposedly a division in transition and ripe for the taking by a Cincinnati team with continuity among its star players and coaching staff.
Against the Steelers, special teams miscues and a fumble by quarterback Joe Burrow ended the comeback bid with less than a minute to play.
Against the Jaguars, Burrow was intercepted twice on a day when Ja’Marr Chase was out injured for more than a half. Tee Higgins left injured late in the game, and the running game barely made a dent in Jacksonville’s defensive front. Still, the Bengals went about 73 yards and into the red zone before turning the ball over on downs with under a minute to play.
By the time reporters entered the locker room, Taylor’s message seemed to have persuaded his players.
“We are very confident,” Burrow said. “We are 2-2, but no one wins a championship after four games.”
Burrow went on to say, "this isn't Armageddon or anything. We're still in a great spot."
Gesicki agreed.
“We had a chance to win the game, and you look in the huddle, that’s not who ran out when they announced the starting lineups,” Gesicki said. “I like what we have in this locker room. I know we’re 2-2. … I really like what we’ve got. It’ll all work itself out.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 'This isn't Armageddon.' Why Zac Taylor, Bengals are confident at 2-2
