The defense has been historically bad in 2024
The Cincinnati Bengals season has been one of the most painful ones to watch in my 25-year lifetime.
Expectations and excitement going into each season in the Joe Burrow era are at an all-time high, and the Bengals have shocked everyone with a 4-8 record.
The season has been a tale of two stories, though, with the offensive and defensive performances.
One side of the football has been one of the best in the NFL, and the other side has been one of the worst, if not the worst.
Lou Anarumo and the Bengals defense has cost this team yet another loss this season allowing the Pittsburgh Steelers to have their best offensive day since 2018.
Russell Wilson had his best game since 2017.
Yes….2017.
Wilson tallied over 400 yards off passing yards with three touchdowns, and the Steelers’ run game had their way with the Bengals’ front seven.
Yet, the Bengals still had a small glimmer of hope on a third-down play after the two-minute warning, and the defense failed to understand that Justin Fields was clearly keeping the ball.
Everybody in the whole stadium knew that Justin Fields was keeping this, except the Bengals players? pic.twitter.com/b1t7UHhdXk
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) December 1, 2024
This play sums up the Bengals’ defense this season: Poor coaching and execution have cost the team another loss.
This was just one of many bad plays by the defense, and it does not seem like this unit will improve out of the bye week.
Throughout the season, the offense has scored 25, 33, 38, 34, 27, and 38 points, but the Bengals have lost every single one of these games.
There is no fight, no intensity, and no tackling on the football’s defensive side, and it is time for the Lou Anarumo era to come to a close.
