Zac Taylor’s September struggles with the Cincinnati Bengals aren’t random. They’re the result of a coaching philosophy designed to protect players for the long haul—but that might come at the cost of early-season success
The good news? This is a fixable problem. With a few adjustments, Taylor can give the Bengals a better chance to hit the ground running without sacrificing their health or long-term ambitions.
In the NFL, every game matters. And for the Bengals, solving their September woes could be the key to turning playoff heartbreak into a championship celebration.
Zac Taylor has brought the Cincinnati Bengals back to relevance, but to truly cement his legacy, he needs to fix what’s become a glaring Achilles’ heel: slow starts.
For Taylor and the Bengals, the mission is clear: start fast, stay healthy, and finish strong. Anything less might mean another year of “what could have been.”
Also Read: Is Joe Thomas Related To Zach Thomas ? Net Worth Difference And Family Tree Explored
Table of Contents
Zac Taylor’s Tenure: The Highs and Lows
Zac Taylor’s time in Cincinnati has been a rollercoaster. After a rough start in 2019, the Bengals transformed into an AFC powerhouse, thanks in large part to the emergence of quarterback Joe Burrow and an explosive offense.1
The Highs:
- 2021 Season: The Bengals finished 10-7, won the AFC North, and made a miraculous run to the Super Bowl, where they fell just short against the Los Angeles Rams.
- 2022 Season: Taylor guided Cincinnati to a 12-4 record and another deep playoff run, reaching the AFC Championship Game.
The Lows:
- 2023 Season: The Bengals started 1-3 and, despite a mid-season resurgence, missed the playoffs.
- 2024 Season: A disastrous 0-3 start saw Cincinnati climb back to 9-8, but once again, the playoff door slammed shut.
The inability to start strong is becoming more than just a minor issue — it’s a defining feature of the Zac Taylor era.
A Pattern of Slow Starts
The numbers don’t lie. Under Taylor, the Bengals have consistently dug themselves into holes early in the season.
- 2023: Started 1-3, finished 9-8 — missed the playoffs.
- 2024: Started 0-3, finished 9-8 — missed the playoffs again.
- Overall Record in First Four Games (2019-2024): 5-19.
These sluggish starts create immense pressure to be nearly perfect down the stretch — a tall order in the competitive AFC.
The Stephen A. Smith Critique
On a recent episode of First Take, NFL analyst Stephen A. Smith voiced what many Bengals fans were already thinking.
“Their problem is that in the Zac Taylor era, they start out 1-11, you know, to start the season. It’s automatic that they’re going to lose the first two games. They’ll be in a hole to start the season. I think there needs to be an investigation (into) what Zac Taylor and his staff are doing in the offseason. Why the hell are you never ready to start the season?” — Stephen A. Smith.
While Smith’s comments may seem hyperbolic, the frustration is valid. Why do the Bengals seem so consistently unprepared in September?
Zac Taylor: Offseason Preparation
One possible explanation for Cincinnati’s early-season struggles is inadequate offseason preparation.2
-
Training Camp Intensity:
- Some NFL teams run intense training camps, focusing on high-rep practices and full-contact drills. The Bengals, by contrast, have been known for lighter camps, with Taylor often opting for player health over early-season sharpness.
- While this approach may reduce injuries, it could also lead to rust, particularly on offense, where timing and chemistry are paramount.
-
Preseason Game Plans:
- The Bengals, like many teams with star quarterbacks, often rest their starters for most of the preseason.
- Joe Burrow’s recent calf injury, which kept him out for much of the 2023 preseason, is a case in point. Without Burrow’s leadership in those early weeks, Cincinnati stumbled out of the gate.
-
Mental Preparation:
- Slow starts might also suggest a mental preparation issue — perhaps Taylor’s staff isn’t setting the right tone in Week 1, failing to ignite the urgency required to win in the NFL.
Strength of Schedule
It’s worth noting that Cincinnati has faced some brutal early-season schedules over the past few years.
Opening games against playoff-caliber teams like the Ravens, Steelers, and Chiefs have frequently put the Bengals in a hole.
While strength of schedule isn’t an excuse, it does amplify the consequences of poor preparation — falling behind early against elite teams often means playing catch-up for the rest of the season.
To avoid another slow start in 2025, Cincinnati needs to take proactive steps.
Revamp Training Camp:
A more intense camp, with starters seeing more reps and live-action scenarios, could help shake off the rust before Week 1.
Play Starters in the Preseason:
While risky, giving Burrow and the offense more preseason snaps could foster better rhythm and timing.
Focus on Early-Season Urgency:
Creating a “must-win” mentality for the first four games could prevent the Bengals from sleepwalking through September.
Roster Depth Improvements:
Strengthening the backup quarterback position and adding depth across the roster could mitigate the impact of injuries.
Also Read: Are Zach Merrett and Roger Merrett Related? Bio, Career, Pet Dog and Family Tree Explored
Zac Taylor: Potential Causes of his September Struggles
The Cincinnati Bengals, under the leadership of head coach Zac Taylor, have established themselves as a formidable team in the AFC.3
Yet, one recurring issue haunts them every year: their slow starts in September. For a team with Super Bowl ambitions, this pattern of early-season struggles raises concerns.
So, what exactly is going wrong for Taylor and the Bengals during the opening month of the NFL season? Is it bad luck, poor preparation, or a strategic miscalculation? Interestingly, the root cause may not be found in September itself but rather in the months leading up to it.
Let’s break this down.
A Closer Look at the Bengals’ September Woes
The Bengals’ September performances under Zac Taylor have been, at best, inconsistent and, at worst, alarming. Despite the team’s undeniable talent and strong finishes in recent seasons, they often stumble out of the gate.
For example, in 2022, the Bengals opened with back-to-back losses, including a shocking defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In 2023, they lost their first two games again, both against division rivals. By the time they hit their stride, they were already playing catch-up in the AFC North.
This trend raises an obvious question: Why do the Bengals start slowly every year? To answer that, we need to look beyond September.
Zac Taylor’s Coaching Pedigree and Its Influence
To understand Taylor’s approach, we must first examine his coaching background. Taylor is a disciple of Sean McVay, the head coach of the Los Angeles Rams.
McVay is well-known for his unconventional preseason philosophy: he rests his starters entirely. His rationale? Avoid injuries and keep key players fresh for the long grind of the regular season.
While Taylor hasn’t adopted this strategy to the same extreme, he seems to follow a similar blueprint. The results, however, have been mixed.
The Preseason Dilemma
One glaring issue is how little the Bengals’ starters play in the preseason.
- Joe Burrow’s Limited Preseason Reps: In 2023, Burrow threw just seven passes during the entire preseason, all of which came in the first preseason game. After that, there was a month-long gap between his preseason action and Week 1 of the regular season.
- Offensive Line Chemistry: The Bengals’ offensive line, a critical component of their success, also saw limited live reps. Building chemistry and timing takes real game action, and a month-long gap inevitably results in rust.
- Comparison with Matthew Stafford and the Rams: Interestingly, McVay’s Rams have suffered a similar fate. In 2024, they started 1-3 before hitting their stride. The pattern seems clear: a lack of preseason action correlates with slow starts.
The Case for More Preseason Risk
To break this September slump, the Bengals may need to reconsider their risk-reward calculation for the preseason.
Yes, playing starters in the preseason carries the risk of injury. But keeping them sidelined for weeks at a time carries its own risk: a sluggish, unprepared team that takes a month to find its rhythm.
- Balancing Health and Readiness: Teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, who often start strong, take a different approach. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense typically get significant preseason reps, and the results speak for themselves.
- Building Momentum Early: Starting the season with a 2-0 or 3-0 record can have a huge impact on playoff seeding. The Bengals’ conservative preseason approach might be costing them this advantage.
Beyond the X’s and O’s, there’s a psychological toll to consider.
Starting 0-2 or 1-3 puts immense pressure on a team. Instead of playing with confidence and freedom, the Bengals find themselves in “must-win” situations by Week 4.
In the ultra-competitive AFC North, early losses to division rivals are particularly damaging. The Bengals have often found themselves trailing the Baltimore Ravens or Pittsburgh Steelers in the standings by October.
Zac Taylor: Injury Management
A Double-Edged Sword
Of course, Taylor’s conservative preseason approach isn’t without merit. The NFL is a brutal league, and injuries can derail a season before it even begins.
- Protecting Joe Burrow: Given Burrow’s injury history—most notably his ACL tear in 2020—Taylor’s caution is understandable.
- Long-Term Vision: The Bengals’ focus has been on peaking in December and January, and to their credit, they’ve done that well in recent years.
But the challenge is finding a balance: how to keep players healthy without sacrificing early-season performance.
So, what can Zac Taylor and the Bengals do to avoid another slow start in 2024 and beyond?
Not full games, but a few more drives for Burrow and the first-team offense could make a significant difference.
Many NFL teams, including the 49ers and Eagles, use joint practices to simulate game speed without the injury risk of a preseason game.
The Bengals’ offense often looks sluggish in the first half of Week 1 games. Emphasizing a fast tempo from the opening snap could help them avoid falling into an early hole.
Learning from the League’s Best
If the Bengals want to take the next step and secure a Super Bowl title, they might need to look at how the NFL’s most consistently successful teams handle September.
Under Bill Belichick, the Patriots always treated September as an extension of training camp, but they rarely started 0-2. They managed to blend preparation and caution effectively.
Reid’s teams, particularly in Kansas City, have mastered the art of being ready for Week 1 without overextending their starters in August.
The Bengals have all the pieces: a franchise quarterback in Joe Burrow, a dynamic receiving corps led by Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and a defense that’s proven capable of making big plays in key moments.
The missing ingredient? A fast start.
If Zac Taylor can adjust his preseason strategy just enough to avoid the September slump, the Bengals could find themselves not only winning the AFC North but also securing the No. 1 seed in the conference—a huge advantage in the quest for a Super Bowl.
