Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Zac Taylor
Offensive Coordinator: Dan Pitcher
Defensive Coordinator: Al Golden
Special Teams Coordinator: Darrin Simmons
Key Additions
RB Samaje Perine
RB Tahj Brooks (6th Rd, 193rd Overall)
TE Noah Fant
LG Dylan Fairchild (3rd Rd, 81st Overall)
RG Lucas Patrick
T Jalen Rivers (5th Rd, 153rd Overall)
DL Tedarrell Slaton
EDGE Shemar Stewart (1st Rd, 17th Overall)
LB Demetrius Knight, Jr. (2nd Rd, 49th Overall)
LB Oren Burks
LB Barrett Carter (4th Rd, 119th Overall)
Key Losses
RB Zack Moss RG Alex Cappa DL Sheldon
Rankins EDGE Sam Hubbard LB Germaine Pratt LB Akeem Davis-Gaither CB Mike Hilton S Vonn Bell
2024
The 2024 season of the Cincinnati Bengals brought together outstanding offense with inconsistent defense which resulted in a 9–8 record without playoff qualification. The Bengals began their season with three consecutive losses before reaching 4–8 but then achieved five consecutive victories to finish the year strong.
The Bengals secured their Week 18 victory against the Steelers but missed the playoffs because Denver defeated Kansas City. The team established a franchise record by scoring 472 points throughout the season which translated to 27.8 points per game while demonstrating one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL.
The Bengals’ offense performed well in EPA per play, ranking seventh while maintaining top ten positions in success rate and red-zone efficiency. Joe Burrow led the league’s top passing unit which achieved the most yards and touchdowns and highest efficiency while Ja’Marr Chase became the first player to win the NFL receiving triple crown by leading all receivers in receptions and yards and touchdowns.
The Bengals’ passing offense received the highest grade from Pro Football Focus at 92.8 on the backs of Tee Higgins, Ja’Marr Chase, and Joe Burrow and the passing game finished 6th in EPA per play and 2nd in passing success rate. The running game struggled throughout the season as the team finished 30th in rushing yards per game, 19th in rushing EPA, and 25th in rushing success rate. The team suffered multiple close losses because of their poor ball security which resulted in 13 lost fumbles to rank among the worst in the league.
The Bengals defense operated as one of the worst units in the league because they ranked 27th in EPA allowed per play (16th against the pass and 28th against the run) and struggled to stop running attacks. The team remained in high-scoring games because they failed to contain big plays. The Bengals defense gave up 4,000 passing yards and 30 touchdowns and allowed more than 25 points per game while ranking poorly in first downs and third-down conversions. The defense showed promise through Trey Hendrickson and new players but failed to match the solid team performance from previous playoff seasons.
2025
The Bengals intended to focus on preserving their top-notch offense while developing defensive stability for the 2025 season. That hasn’t gone to plan and was derailed in week one with the loss of Joe Burrow due to turf toe. The team competitiveness became evident through their late-season success yet their early mistakes and defensive failures prevented them from closing the gap.
The Bengals needed to develop a consistent running game and enhance defensive line strength and ball protection to achieve playoff qualification with their existing offensive potential. The 2024 season demonstrated how close the team stands to elite status but also revealed the small adjustments needed to reach another deep postseason run.
Heading into 2025, the Bengals have made structural changes and are navigating serious challenges. The club fired long-time defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and multiple position coaches, signaling that the defensive failures of 2024 can no longer be tolerated. The team re-signed tight end Mike Gesicki to a multiyear deal and locked in Tee Higgins with a four-year extension, while also navigating contract talks surrounding Chase.
Expectations were high for the offense to remain elite, as analysts expected Burrow to continue to dominate — but there is notable concern over the offensive line, which ranked among the worst in pass protection and has allowed constant pressure. The running game remains a weak spot, with little added depth in the offseason and the Bengals projected to face one of the toughest schedules of run defenses. Defensively, the Bengals goal was to overcome its 2024 identity: bottom-tier in multiple metrics, only salvageable when edge rusher Trey Hendrickson was disruptive.
The start of 2025 has already tested that balance. Through five games, Cincinnati sits at 2–3 and second in the AFC North. In response to quarterback instability (Joe Burrow injury, backup Jake Browning’s struggles), the Bengals traded for veteran Joe Flacco this past week. There are also injury questions: star receiver Ja’Marr Chase was listed as questionable for Week 6 with illness.
Their 2025 schedule is tougher: Cincinnati has gone from having one of the easiest offensive schedules to one of the most difficult, increasing the pressure on the team’s script. It would be nothing short of a miracle if the Bengals somehow make a postseason push with Joe Flacco (it’s not clear if and when Burrow will actually return). The Packers have already faced Flacco once and held him to a subpar performance. They’ll likely do it again against a broken and dejected Bengals team.
