The Bengals were already out of the playoffs, but Zac Taylor’s comments following the latest inconsequential loss have left some players confused. Head coach Taylor wrapped up his thoughts on the season by saying that it’s a little bit fitting (the way they finished) in his post-game comments. But for wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, the meaning behind these words was a mystery.

“I don’t even know what that means, if I’m being honest,” Chase said after the game.

In Cincinnati’s 20-18 season-ending loss to Cleveland, the Bengals walked off their home field one more time with that familiar mix of frustration. The WR took the loss to his heart and didn’t seem interested in interpreting his coach’s comment.

Zac Taylor calling the loss “a little fitting” lands differently when viewed through Ja’Marr Chase’s season. Chase was Cincinnati’s constant, producing regardless of game script, opponent, or stakes, including a late touchdown against Cleveland that once again put the Bengals ahead.

The year began with a narrow win over the Browns, where Chase was quiet (zero touchdowns), and ended with a Browns loss where he did everything asked (one touchdown for 96 yards). For a player who carried the offense through chaos, the frustration is not about effort or output, but about watching elite performances repeatedly swallowed by endings that never matched the work.

“I don’t like losing,” The WR further added. “I don’t know how this works. Maybe I should probably save that for a draft pick or something, but I don’t know how that works, so I’m going to stay in my lane.”

This season has been brutal for the Bengals, and the cracks are starting to show publicly in ways that suggest deeper frustration. Since 2019, Taylor has led the team to two AFC title games and a Super Bowl appearance, but the team now has three consecutive playoff misses. After nine wins a year ago, sliding to five this season felt like a quiet collapse. That is where Zac Taylor’s word “fitting” cuts deepest. The Bengals closed it the same way the season unfolded.

That puts even greater pressure on Taylor in 2026, but the silver lining here is that the head coach’s future is secure. Following the defeat, the Bengals confirmed that the season, the head coach would continue with the team for next season, entering his eighth year with the franchise.

Zac Taylor confirmed to remain head coach for 2026

Despite how flat the season ended, Cincinnati is choosing continuity over chaos. A 6–11 finish and a third straight playoff miss would have been enough to trigger sweeping changes, but Mike Brown made it clear the Bengals are not tearing down what they still believe works. Zac Taylor’s future was settled quickly.

“We are taking a hard look at everything we do as we approach this offseason with focused determination to build a championship-caliber roster that wins consistently,” Bengals President Mike Brown said, confirming the news. “We are fully committed to delivering results that match the pride, passion, and expectations of this organization and our fans.”

Brown’s statement leaned heavily on context, not just results. Taylor remains the coach who delivered a Super Bowl. This season, frustrating as it was, marked Taylor’s first losing year since 2020, not a prolonged collapse.

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That belief now turns into pressure. After three seasons outside the playoff picture, Taylor’s mandate would be get secure a spot again. The Bengals did miss out on star player Joe Burrow for a majority of the season, and when the player was fit, their prowess showed.

With a fully healthy Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase providing week-to-week consistency, Cincinnati believes its foundation is still intact. If those pillars hold, the Bengals will enter next season expecting to push straight back into the playoff conversation.