On Sunday, October 26, 2025, the Cincinnati Bengals hosted the New York Jets at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati and suffered a heart-breaker, 39-38. The result was one of the more maddening losses of the season, and in recent memory, for Cincinnati. Here’s a full breakdown of the good, the bad and yes — the ugly. […]
On Sunday, October 26, 2025, the Cincinnati Bengals hosted the New York Jets at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati and suffered a heart-breaker, 39-38. The result was one of the more maddening losses of the season, and in recent memory, for Cincinnati. Here’s a full breakdown of the good, the bad and yes — the ugly.
The Good
Offensive production still showed life
- Quarterback Joe Flacco completed 21 of 34 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions. He also had a rushing touchdown, putting his total of eight (seven passing, one rushing) against zero turnovers in three starts with the team. He’s also posted passer ratings of 90.9, 108.6, and 100.5 the last three games.
- The Bengals moved the ball and accumulated 398 total net yards. This is a stark contrast from the pre-Flacco/post-Joe Burrow starts, as Cincinnati is showing signs of being a well-rounded offense under No. 16.
- Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase had 12 receptions for 91 yards — showing he’s still a weapon even in a chaotic game. His 54 targets over the past three weeks are the most ever for a receiver over that span and he’s responded with 38 catches for 346 yards and two scores.
- Running backs contributed: Samaje Perine rushed for 94 yards and a touchdown, and Chase Brown added 73 yards and a score. This type of balance has been craved for the Bengals for some time and that ability to control the clock—particularly in the second half—should have been the catalyst to a convincing victory.
- The Bengals jumped out to a strong start, taking a 10-0 first quarter lead and a 24-13 lead at halftime. All in all, the offense gave hope that this team can still move the ball and score, even when on their third starting quarterback this season.
Touchdowns, not field goals
- Flacco’s two touchdown passes came relatively early — one to Tee Higgins (44 yards) and one to Chase Brown (19 yards) — helping build the lead. Flacco, Brown and Perine had touchdown runs as well on Sunday, showcasing the offense’s ability to finish drives and not having to settle for three points. That kind of execution should have given Cincinnati the platform for a win.
The Bad
Letting a manageable lead slip away
- Despite leading 31-16 entering the fourth quarter, the Bengals allowed the Jets to score 23 points in the final quarter and lost by one. This collapse was incredibly epic, especially considering that Cincinnati held a two-touchdown lead around the midway point in the fourth quarter.
- Time of possession: The Jets held the ball for 33:40 vs. the Bengals’ 26:20. That kind of edge often factors in late-game breakdowns. In short: you build a lead, but you must finish the game. The Bengals didn’t.
Defensive collapse when it mattered most
- The Jets ran for 255 yards and executed key plays in the fourth quarter. Cincinnati’s defense still has massive issues on third downs—particularly when in third-and-long situations.
- The Bengals failed to create turnovers or big plays in the red zone late. According to some postgame quotes: “someone’s got to step up … create a turnover … win offensively explosive play … never happened for us.” The defense simply didn’t hold up when it mattered most.
The Devil is in the Details
- Cincinnati was coming off of a feel-good win against their bitter rivals on primetime. Flacco was feeling comfortable (and did again against the Jets), the team was in the middle of three consecutive games at Paycor Stadium and enjoying a “mini-bye”. Yet, none of that seemed to matter, as Cincinnati suffered a hallmark loss.
- While it makes sense to target Chase so frequently, Tee Higgins had only two targets on the day. With Andrei Iosivas struggling to come down with the ball a couple of more times in traffic on Sunday, more looks to No. 5 would have made some sense.
The Ugly
Blowout on paper, razor-thin on result
- It’s one thing to lose a close game; it’s another to lead by 14-15 points in the fourth quarter and still lose. That magnifies every mistake.
- Some outlets are already calling this the worst loss of coach Zac Taylor’s era.
Moral victory turned bitter
- For a team like the Jets to earn their first win of the year at Cincinnati? That stings. The Bengals became the scapegoat in a foundational win for Aaron Glenn and New York.
- The Jets’ running game, led by Breece Hall (133 yards, 2 rushing touchdowns, plus an inexplicable passing touchdown) overshadowed any positivity the Bengals mustered on the day. When the winless team comes back and beats you on your home turf — that’s a major problem.
Playoff implications and larger narrative
- Cincinnati fell to 3-5 with this loss. According to standings at the time, this drops them behind many AFC competitors. That’s really saying something, given the weak division and a conference that has been more mediocre than originally expected.
- The lack of defensive identity and late-game resilience raises deeper questions about this roster’s championship or even playoff viability. It’s ugly because it forces reflection: is this team built for big moments?
The Fallout
- Injuries coming from this game may prove to be crucial for the next few weeks. Flacco reportedly suffered an AC Joint sprain on this throwing arm on his only hit by the Jets. Trey Hendrickson was came up gimpy once again midway through the game after missing the Thursday night matchup against the Steelers, so that’s another big injury to monitor.
- Sunday afternoon and Monday saw a flurry of frustration from those inside and out of the Paycor walls. Regarding the locker room, Chase was visibly angry in his postgame interview, while defensive tackle Mike Pennel reportedly requested his release from the team, which was granted. Additionally, rumors swirled about fans flooding the Bengals’ ticket lines with cancellations after this inexplicable loss.
Final Thoughts
The Bengals showed that their offense can still function and they can build leads. But the fundamental issue remains the same: finishing games and defending when it counts. A 15-point lead entering the final quarter should translate into a win, especially at home. Instead, it turned into a gut punch.
If Cincinnati wants to salvage the season and make a push, they must learn from this game:
- Defend the fourth quarter with the same intensity (if not more than) as the first.
- Create turnovers and big plays when the opponent is mounting a surge.
- Clean up situational football (third-down stops, sacks allowed, red-zone defense).
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