The Cincinnati Bengals are in a tough spot: their superstar quarterback, Joe Burrow, is sidelined indefinitely with a serious Grade 3 turf toe injury. Things got worse over the last two weeks, especially after a truly embarrassing 28−3 loss to the Denver Broncos. With the team now sitting at a 2−2 record heading into their Week 5 matchup against the Detroit Lions, all eyes are on backup QB Jake Browning, whose performance has been shaky in his two starts

But Head Coach Zac Taylor is not wavering. On Wednesday, Taylor stood firm on his decision, making it clear that Browning is still their guy. ESPN’s Ben Baby quoted the coach, “I have a ton of confidence in Jake. I’m unwavering in that.” 

After their last performance against the Broncos, the team struggled tremendously, which put pressure on the Cincinnati Bengals to address their quarterback situation. While backup QB Jake Browning showed flashes of great play last season, his performance since stepping in for the injured Joe Burrow has been inconsistent, coinciding with the Bengals’ offense plummeting to the bottom of most league rankings.

For this reason, fans and NFL analysts suggested that the team should be aggressively looking for veteran help. The primary name being floated in trade rumors is New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson, who was recently benched by the Giants in favor of rookie Jaxson Dart, despite the team already having veteran Jameis Winston on the roster.

However, Zac Taylor put an end to all the rumors and speculations about a new QB as he said Jake Browning will remain the Bengals’ starter for the upcoming game against the Lions. Taylor indicated that a move to bring in another quarterback is not a current priority, stating that any such addition would only happen if lead executive Duke Tobin finds a truly compelling option. 

Who is to be blamed for the Cincinnati Bengals’ loss?

The responsibility for the Cincinnati Bengals’ recent blowout loss and ongoing struggles is a complex issue. Blame’s resting across multiple areas of the team.

With a score of 28-3 defeat to the Broncos. The team only managed to gain 159 total yards and failed to score a touchdown. And this is becoming a pattern. After all, the team has only accumulated 200 or fewer offensive yards in three of its first four games.

Quarterback Jake Browning, despite defending his teammates’ effort, was limited to just 125 passing yards and acknowledged that the entire offense “must evaluate how they are responsible.”

Beyond the quarterback, head coach Zac Taylor took direct blame for the offensive woes and the team’s undisciplined play. Taylor stated, “It really starts with me on offense. Getting those guys in a rhythm. Creating some momentum. So, our defense isn’t out there all day.” 

The 28-3 defeat followed a 48-10 loss, resulting in a minus-63 point differential over two games. 

This tied for the worst two-game stretch in franchise history dating back to 1968.

So, this catastrophic two-week span points to a complete breakdown across all phases. Right from the coaching to the different layers of offense and defense. But it only suggests that a singular focus on the quarterback change is insufficient to solve the systemic issues. The whole team should put in efforts to overcome their shortcomings. 

The Bengals are now set to face the Detroit Lions at Paycor Stadium on October 5, 2025.