Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor finds himself on the hot seat following his team’s Week 6 pre-trade for veteran quarterback Joe Flacco. The decision perceived by most as desperation to revive a sputtering offense did not sit well with everyone, including two ESPN analysts who ridiculed Taylor’s judgment.

The Bengals’ trade of Joe Flacco from the Cleveland Browns was questioned by ESPN’s analysts Marcus Spears and Dan Orlovsky. They tried to understand the motive behind this trade. Spears mocked the move in characteristic candor, saying, “I don’t know what this move was about, but the first thing I thought about was, ‘OK, let’s bring in a statue to stand behind the offensive line that gets the quarterbacks hit, and then get better?’ Ehhh?”

He further continued, “Mobility is better. But this should’ve been Jameis Winston. Or even Russell Wilson. Like I just don’t get the Flacco part of it. I don’t get it.” The Bengals sent a fifth-round pick of 2026 NFL Draft to the Browns for Flacco and a sixth-round draft pick. The ex-Super Bowl MVP was replaced by the Browns before Week 5 by Dillon Gabriel, who started in a 21-17 loss at Minnesota. On the other hand, Flacco takes over wobbly Browning in Cincinnati as franchise QB Joe Burrow heals an injury. But….there’s a but.

Statistically, Flacco has not provided much grounds for optimism. In four games this season, he has passed for 757 yards, completing 64.5% of attempts with six touchdowns and eight picks. The Bengals expect Joe to force-feed targets rather than distribute the ball evenly. In 2023, he led the Browns to the playoffs, earning the Comeback Player of the Year award.

Orlovsky seconded, implying the Bengals could’ve brought a more athletic pick in. “Yeah, I don’t know why it’s not a younger, more athletic option,” he responded. “Now maybe they did, in their defense. Maybe they made some calls for a younger player that’s maybe a little bit more athletic to try to mitigate it? But this move doesn’t feel like it’s an upgrade remotely from Jake Browning. I know Jake Browning’s turned the football over. But at least he’s way more mobile.”

His mobility, an area of concern, has also been limited, netting only 13 yards on the ground on six carries. Before the Browns benched him, he failed to lead by more than 17 points in any previous game of the season. (Unfortunately, Gabriel too failed under 17 in the last matchup)

His most recent outing, a 184-yard, two-interception game against the Lions, underscored why many believe this signing signals panic more than progress. Cincinnati’s deal to acquire Flacco reeked of desperation, as they dropped to 2-3.

With a sinking season, Taylor and the front office could no longer wait and hope. However, this decision is not settling well with the Bengals quarterback, Jake Browning.

Jake Browning’s frustration over Zac Taylor’s QB call for Joe Flacco

Zac Taylor announced that Flacco will be their starting quarterback, sidelining Browning. The Bengals gambled on Flacco’s experience, hoping his playoff experience and leadership would bring a little stability to the equation. However, Browning Showed Frustration. As posted by expert Dov Kleiman on X, Jake Browning was not too discreet about hiding his disappointment at being benched.

“If I wasn’t pissed, then I shouldn’t be in this locker room,” Browning said. “I’m not dumb or arrogant enough to think I didn’t play my role in the offensive struggles, but there’s a lot that goes into it… I think there’s a lot of other things that kind of contributed to our lack of offensive production.”

The Bengals struggled with Browning as their starting quarterback at 0-3, and his numbers reflected the Bengals’ offense’s dud. He completed 80 of 124 for 757 yards and six touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Three of his interceptions came last week in the loss, when the Bengals fell behind 28-3 in the fourth quarter. It was the third consecutive game the Bengals were in a large deficit, having lost to the Vikings 48-10 and to the Broncos 28-3.

Even following Browning’s heroic fourth-quarter comeback bid at Detroit, where the Bengals led by 21 points, the coaching staff had finally had enough. Insiders within the team indicated that locker-room morale was sinking, with some players losing confidence in the young quarterback.

Taylor and his coaches believed they had to make a change to bring life back into the offense and the sense of responsibility so that a pivotal part of the season could continue. Browning, although irritated, accepted the move professionally, offering a simple rationale for the realities of pro football. “I think it s—s, but welcome to pro football,” he said. “If you don’t play well, you’re gonna get replaced. That’s what I’m going through.”

Pressure is now squarely on Zac Taylor’s shoulders, as Flacco will lead the team in his Bengals’ debut. If Flacco can’t get it done with the very same subpar, frequently beat-up offensive line that choked up Browning, the move will turn sour quickly. In the meantime, however, the Bengals are hoping that the vet’s maturity and calm nature will steady a roster poised on the edge of self-destruction, as much as critics question whether Taylor only made worse of an already bad situation.